Nov 04, 2025
How confident is the average American man over 45? When it comes to self-belief, our survey results* are in, and one thing is crystal clear: American men are as confident as they come.
Many men say they could still go pro in football, basketball, or baseball. Others picture themselves stepping up in life-or-death emergencies like landing a plane or even taking on a wild animal.
But here’s the kicker. While 1 in 3 men over 401 will deal with urinary incontinence in their lifetime, far fewer see it as a real possibility, even more so when compared with the feats we’ve asked them about.
Let’s look what men over 45 think they could master.
What Extraordinary Feats Do American Men over 45 Think They Can Achieve?
Let’s face it. You’ve probably imagined a dozen scenarios where you are that dude. And our survey found that you’re definitely not alone in this, plus some other surprising results.
Landing Planes to Bear Grylls-esque Survival Skills?
Ever pictured yourself saving the day on a plane? 31% of American men aged 45+ believe they could land a plane in an emergency.
Think your survival skills could hold up in the wild? 27% of the men in our survey believe they could fight a wild animal, and 46% say they could last a week in the wilderness with only basic skills and limited supplies.
And if the world ended tomorrow? 32% of men are confident they’d survive a zombie apocalypse.
For sports fans, confidence levels run high too. 17% believe they could last one minute in the ring with a pro boxer, 15% think they could score a hole in one in under 100 tries, and 13% believe they could nail a penalty shot in a World Cup Final.
A City View: How Men in Top Cities Believe They Could Survive These Extraordinary Feats
Curious about the extraordinary things men in your city think they could take on?
In Houston, 39% of men aged 45+ believe they could climb Mount Everest. Over in San Jose, men take to the skies, with 53% convinced they could land a plane in an emergency.
Out in the wild, confidence levels shift. 65% of Memphis men believe they could fight a wild animal, while 71% of San Diego men are sure they could survive a full week in the wilderness with only basic survival skills.
And when it comes to the end of the world, Las Vegas takes the crown. 58% of men there say they could survive a zombie apocalypse.
Sports are not lagging, either. In New Orleans, 46% of men think they could last a minute in the ring with a professional boxer, while in Los Angeles, 42% believe they could score a penalty kick in a World Cup Final.
How Men Think They Would Perform out on the Field
Sports can just as well be ingrained in American DNA, head on out on any big game day, and you’ll see supporters everywhere. But how confident are American men in their own sports capabilities?
When professional football enters the mix, the self-belief skyrockets. 23% of respondents over 45 say they could kick a field goal, while 33% think they could make a successful tackle. Another 24% believe they could break a tackle, and 36% are sure they could catch a pass.
Some men have even bolder beliefs. 41% think they could catch a pass from a professional football player, and 35% of those who’ve played football believe they could absolutely go pro.
Which Cities Think They Have Got What It Takes to Go Pro?
When it comes to believing they could go pro, San Jose men rank the highest; 75% of those who’ve played football think they could make it. But other cities aren’t far behind in their confidence on the (survey) field.
In Washington DC, 52% of men believe they could kick a field goal. For tackling, 64% of San Diego men say they could make a tackle, while 54% of Houston men think they could break one.
San Jose men also show confidence in their hands, with 67% believing they could catch a pass from a professional football player. But San Diego men take it a step further; 78% think they could achieve this.
Slam Dunk Dreams vs Reality
Football isn’t the only sport where confidence runs high; basketball has its share too. 30% of men believe they could sink a 3-pointer in a professional game.
The bold claims don’t stop there. 28% of respondents think they could score at least one point in a one-on-one against a pro, while 24% of men who’ve played basketball believe they’ve got what it takes to go pro themselves.
Regional Hoop Hopes
When it comes to basketball confidence, Las Vegas men dominate. 67% of those who’ve played believe they could go pro, and 58% think they could nail a 3-pointer in a professional game.
Meanwhile, over in Houston, 55% of men say they could put up at least one point in a one-on-one against a pro.
Could Men Compete in a Pro Baseball Game?
Another sport where our respondents ooze confidence is baseball. Among men who’ve played, 26% believe they could go pro. Beyond that, 21% think they could get a hit off a professional pitcher.
And while 15% say they could strike out a pro, 13% of respondents imagine they could send one over the fence for a home run.
Where Men Feel They Could Hit a Home Run?
In Anchorage, half of the men who completed the survey (50%) believe they could strike out a professional player. But the boldest claim comes from Honolulu, where 67% of those who’ve played baseball say they could go pro.
The confidence doesn’t stop there. In Los Angeles, 48% of men believe they could get a hit off a pro pitcher, while 43% of Seattle men think they could knock one out of the park for a home run.
How Does this Compare to Men Who Experience Urinary Incontinence?
From the football field to the basketball court, the baseball diamond, and even the most extreme “could-you-really-do-it?” scenarios, this survey shows just how boundless American men’s confidence can be.
Yet, set against these extraordinary feats comes a powerful reminder of reality: urinary incontinence; a common but often overlooked condition is more common than you think.
And, somehow, the confidence we’ve seen in our survey doesn’t extend to incontinence.
To put things into perspective. 1 in 3 males over 401 experience drips and dribbles. That’s the same percentage of men who think they can land a plane in an emergency, survive a zombie apocalypse, make a successful tackle in a football game, or even sink a 3-pointer in a professional basketball game.
It’s Time to Break Some Stigmas and Banish some Taboos
Many men face incontinence silently, believing they’re alone, or an outlier. It’s not something you talk about casually while you’re watching a sports game now, is it?
The thing is, there’s absolutely no reason to feel embarrassed if you have incontinence, and you do not have to deal in silence. Drips and dribbles happen (to 1 in 3 men over 401 to be exact). It’s a manageable condition, and the right products and support could make all the difference.
At TENA, we offer a full range of men’s guards, underwear, and briefs designed to fit your lifestyle and give you total control. Whether you’re at work, at home, firing up the barbecue on game day or de-stressing with a game of pickleball, we’ve got what you need to feel confident and comfortable every day.
Methodology:
* The research was conducted by Censuswide in September 2025 among a nationally representative sample of 2,004 men aged 18 and over in the United States. The sample included 409 respondents from the Midwest, 454 from the Northeast, 799 from the South, and 342 from the West. Of the total respondents, 1,074 were men aged 45 and above.
Source:
1. TENA Men’s A&U, MarketVision Research, May 2025 (n=3,161, nationally representative sample of men ages 40+, US)
