Study: Freedom Debt Relief Helps Clients Reduce Stress
ByJohn Russo
UpdatedMar 1, 2026
- Researchers at Arizona State University found that Freedom Debt Relief program graduates had less financial stress than consumers who qualified to enroll but chose not to.
- Graduates were more likely to report better sleep, healthier relationships and improved quality of life.
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The Freedom Debt Relief program may reduce stress
When you’re dealing with debt, you may feel stressed and out of control—both financially and emotionally. But what if there was a way to curb that stress and start feeling better about your situation? A recent study from the L. William Seidman Research Institute at Arizona State University suggests that Freedom Debt Relief may have the answer for your debt stress.
Wish you could feel less stressed?
As you may know, Freedom Debt Relief negotiates with creditors to get you out of debt faster and for less than you . But it turns out that folks who sign up and complete our debt settlement program feel less stressed than people who are struggling with debt and could have signed up, but didn’t.
In fact, the study found that compared to those who never enrolled in Freedom Debt Relief, clients who graduated from the program:
Believe they are more in control of important things in their lives
Think things are going their way
Feel less overall stress than people who never signed up
Using an assessment called Perceived Stress Scale, the research institute concluded that Freedom Debt Relief graduates reported feeling 21% less stressed than those who never enrolled.
Looking for a sense of empowerment and well-being?
If you have ever shouldered the weight of overwhelming debt, you know that debt stress carries over into other aspects of your life. It affects your personal relationships, worsens your emotional state, and makes it harder to sleep at night.
However, Freedom Debt Relief graduates say that once this weight is lifted off of them, they see an improvement to their overall emotional and physical wellbeing. In fact, compared to folks who didn’t sign up:
6% more Freedom Debt Relief graduates feel more empowered to make changes to their lives
7% more Freedom Debt Relief graduates said they had strong and healthy personal relationships
11% more Freedom Debt Relief graduates feel they can take steps to improve their quality of life
6% more Freedom Debt Relief graduates stated that they sleep well at night
Being in debt can feel like a hopeless situation, like you’re trapped and there’s no way out. But our program could help guide you out of debt and back on the path to a brighter financial future. Not only could it help reduce your stress, it could lead to a better outlook on life in general.
Looking for debt relief in Tucson, AZ or across the country? The first step is the most important one—learn more.
Take the first steps toward reducing your debt stress
If your debts are adding to your stress or you’re worried about falling behind on payments, it might be time to take action. Freedom Debt Relief is here to help you understand your options for dealing with your debt, including our debt settlement program. Our Certified Debt Consultants can help you find a solution that will lead you to less stress and a better financial future. Find out if you qualify right now.
Debt relief by the numbers
We looked at a sample of data from Freedom Debt Relief of people seeking credit card debt relief during January 2026. This data reveals the diversity of individuals seeking help and provides insights into some of their key characteristics.
Credit utilization and debt relief
How are people using their credit before seeking help? Credit utilization measures how much of a credit line is being used. For example, if you have a credit line of $10,000 and your balance is $3,000, that is a credit utilization of 30%. High credit utilization often signals financial stress. We have looked at people who are seeking debt relief and their credit utilization. (Low credit utilization is 30% or less, medium is between 31% and 50%, high is between 51% and 75%, very high is between 76% to 100%, and over-utilized over 100%). In January 2026, people seeking debt relief had an average of 74% credit utilization.
Here are some interesting numbers:
| Credit utilization bucket | Percent of debt relief seekers |
|---|---|
| Over utilized | 30% |
| Very high | 32% |
| High | 19% |
| Medium | 10% |
| Low | 9% |
The statistics refer to people who had a credit card balance greater than $0.
You don't have to have high credit utilization to look for a debt relief solution. There are a number of solutions for people, whether they have maxed out their credit cards or still have a significant part available.
Home-secured debt – average debt by selected states
According to the 2023 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) (using 2022 data) the average home-secured debt for those with a balance was $212,498. The percentage of families with mortgage debt was 42%.
In January 2026, 25% of the debt relief seekers had a mortgage. The average mortgage debt was $236504, and the average monthly payment was $1882.
Here is a quick look at the top five states by average mortgage balance.
| State | % with a mortgage balance | Average mortgage balance | Average monthly payment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 20 | $391,113 | $2,710 | |
| District of Columbia | 17 | $339,911 | $2,330 | |
| Utah | 31 | $316,936 | $2,094 | |
| Nevada | 25 | $306,258 | $2,082 | |
| Massachusetts | 28 | $297,524 | $2,290 |
The statistics are based on all debt relief seekers with a mortgage loan balance over $0.
Housing is an important part of a household's expenses. Remember to consider all your debts when looking for a way to get debt relief.
Regain Financial Freedom
Seeking debt relief can be the first step toward financial freedom. Are you struggling with debt? Explore options for debt relief to regain control of your finances. It doesn't matter how old you are or what your FICO score or credit utilization is. Take the first step towards a brighter financial future today.
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Author Information
Written by
John Russo
John Russo is a Creative Manager at Freedom Debt Relief. His goal is to make the world of personal finance more accessible so that everyday people can find the right financial solutions for themselves. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, reading pretty much anything, and spending time with his fiancée and two cats.
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