{"id":57562,"date":"2026-05-25T12:38:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T05:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/?p=57562"},"modified":"2026-05-25T12:38:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T05:38:00","slug":"singaporeans-equate-net-worth-with-self-worth-aia-study-reveals-harmful-financial-stereotypes-hold-back-wellbeing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thaipropertynews.com\/feeds\/?p=57562","title":{"rendered":"Singaporeans equate net-worth with self-worth: AIA study reveals harmful financial stereotypes hold back wellbeing"},"content":{"rendered":"

SINGAPORE<\/span>, May 25, 2026<\/span> \/PRNewswire\/ — Stereotypes about financial success are shaping identity and perceptions of masculinity in Singapore, according to the AIA Rethink Healthy Asia Report.\u00a0While Singaporeans report lower personal agreement with many traditional stereotypes compared to the rest of Asia, they experience some of the highest impact on their wellbeing, with 98% of respondents\u00a0in Singapore noting that\u00a0stereotypes negatively\u00a0impact\u00a0them socially. These findings suggest that even when individuals no longer personally believe stereotypes, they still feel constrained by the fear of social judgement.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, Singapore is the only market where financial status is explicitly tied to personal identity and masculinity as the leading stereotypes, creating a unique “identity strain” compared to peers across the region, where there is a distinctive tension between personal beliefs and perceived social expectations. Many in Singapore continue to feel pressured by the expectation of equating\u00a0personal worth with wealth, agreeing that “wealth determines a person’s worth” and “a man’s worth depends on his financial success.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

“When financial success becomes a measure of personal worth, people can become overly focused on finances at the expense of other\u00a0important areas\u00a0of life.\u00a0What begins as economic or environmental pressure can quickly turn into emotional pressure \u2013 shaping how people see themselves, their relationships, their place in society, and their overall wellbeing,”\u00a0says Irma\u00a0Hadikusuma,\u00a0Chief Marketing & Healthcare Officer, AIA Singapore.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

The Cost of Silence \u2013 Impact of Stereotypes on Singaporeans’ Behaviour <\/b><\/p>\n

Compared to other Asian markets, where stereotypes around physical health ideals (Malaysia), the effort and cost of\u00a0maintaining\u00a0health (Thailand), and family duty expectations (Mainland China) are more impactful, Singapore stands out as being distinctly impacted by\u00a0financial\u00a0stereotypes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Singaporeans personally reject stereotypes at a higher rate than the regional average \u2014 with only 24% agreeing on stereotypes such as “men must not show vulnerability” compared to the 37.5% average across Asia. However, the reported impact on wellbeing is the highest in the region\u00a0which suggests that stereotypes continue to shape behaviour even when people consciously reject them.<\/p>\n

This disconnect leads to “social self-censorship,” where individuals avoid discussing struggles for fear of looking weak or unsuccessful. Key findings include:<\/p>\n