Men’s Health Research Brief

New study links heavier workplace stress to erectile difficulties in young men

A study of 826 full-time workers ages 22 to 40 found a steep association between accumulated job stress and erectile difficulties. It is a reason for a fuller health conversation—not proof that work caused an individual case.

September 9, 2026 · 6 min read

Young man pausing after work in a Southern California home office before a private health conversation

The study measured more than long hours

Researchers recruited 826 full-time working men ages 22 to 40 from March 2022 through August 2024. They built a Workplace Psychological Stress Accumulation Index around five dimensions: working hours, decision-making autonomy, supervisor support, relationships with colleagues and pressure to win promotion. Erectile function was measured with the five-item International Index of Erectile Function, while cortisol, testosterone and other hormones were measured from blood samples. The paper was published online Wednesday in the International Journal of Clinical Practice.

The high-stress group had a much higher rate—but it is a study-group result

The authors reported erectile dysfunction in 54.37% of participants classified in the high-stress group and an adjusted odds ratio of 10.26 compared with the low-stress group. Their combined risk model placed participants into groups with ED rates of 9.2%, 31.6% and 68.4%. Those figures describe this enrolled sample and this new stress index. They do not mean that half of all young workers—or half of young men in California—have ED, and the model is not an online self-test.

The hormone pathway is a hypothesis to investigate, not a home treatment plan

The study linked higher cortisol with later testosterone decline and linked testosterone changes with later erectile-function impairment. It also found different patterns for workload and supervisor support. The authors interpret those measurements as a stress–hormone pathway and propose a six- to 10-week window for intervention. Because researchers did not randomly assign workplace stress, the findings cannot prove that job conditions caused any one participant’s symptoms. The study needs replication in other occupations and populations, and the reported hormone pattern does not justify buying testosterone or ordering a hormone panel without medical guidance.

Stress belongs on the list of possible contributors—not at the top by default

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases says anxiety, depression, stress, loneliness, low self-esteem and body-image concerns can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction. It also lists diabetes, heart and blood-vessel disease, obesity, hormone or thyroid problems, nerve injury, smoking, heavy alcohol use, recreational drugs and a range of prescription and over-the-counter medicines. More than one contributor may be present. Blaming a deadline can delay evaluation of a physical condition; assuming the cause must be physical can miss anxiety, relationship strain or depression.

A clinical visit starts with history, not an embarrassing confession

A healthcare professional may ask when the change began, whether erections occur sometimes or during sleep, whether desire or ejaculation also changed, and what was happening with work, sleep, mood and relationships. NIDDK says diagnosis can include medical, sexual and mental-health history, a physical exam and selected tests. Bring a complete list of prescriptions, over-the-counter products and supplements. Describe the pattern plainly—frequency, duration and what changed—rather than arriving with a diagnosis copied from a post or a lab package.

Do not self-start testosterone or buy an ED product from an ad

Testosterone is not a generic stress remedy. NIDDK says it may be prescribed in some cases when ED and low testosterone are both present, and ED treatment should address an underlying cause when possible. The agency also warns against ordering ED medicine online before speaking with a healthcare professional because medicines and supplements can interact and cause serious problems. Do not stop an antidepressant, blood-pressure medicine or another prescription on your own; ask the prescriber whether timing, dose or an alternative should be reviewed.

Use the work-stress signal for concrete questions

For two weeks, note work hours, after-hours messages, sleep, alcohol, exercise, mood and the timing of sexual symptoms without turning the record into a scorecard. Ask a clinician: Which physical and emotional causes fit this pattern? Do my medicines or supplements matter? Are any tests appropriate? Would counseling, sleep support or a workplace change help alongside medical care? At work, a realistic first step may be a protected stop time, fewer overnight notifications, a conversation about workload or confidential employee-assistance support. Relaxation practices can help some people manage stress, but they are not a guaranteed ED treatment.

Persistent symptoms deserve care without shame

An occasional difficulty is not the same as a diagnosis. Repeated trouble getting or keeping an erection that is firm enough for sex deserves a routine healthcare conversation, especially when it persists, causes distress or appears with other symptoms. Seek prompt medical help for chest pain, fainting or another acute danger. After using an ED medicine, an erection lasting longer than four hours or sudden vision or hearing loss requires immediate contact with a healthcare professional. This article is educational, not personal medical advice. NOCTI and independent massage or wellness providers do not diagnose or treat erectile dysfunction, hormonal conditions or mental-health disorders.

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