Marriage Linked to Lower Cancer Risk, But Experts Say It Doesn’t Equal Prevention

The concept of marriage is in flux in society. In fact, recent data show that marriage rates in the United States are actually falling. A recent study published in the journal Cancer Research Communications suggests that being or having been married may be associated with reduced cancer risk. This means that, according to the data, many people may be missing out on the health benefits of marriage. However, there are some who say that the societal concept of marriage being “better” than being single may skew data and the interpretations of it. “People start from the assumption ‘Marriage: good. No marriage: bad’ and interpret things in ways that do not make sense in terms of actual data,” Joan DelFattore, PhD, professor emerita of English and legal studies at the University of Delaware, and someone who has written about cancer and marital status for academic journals and mass media, told CNN. Delfattore wasn’t involved in the study. She added that this bias, which is embedded in medical training and research, often leads to conclusions that may be “over-simplified.” The recent study showed, however, that statistically, people who had an “ever-married” status had a lower incident rate of cancer than those who had “never-married.” The researchers identified “ever-married” to include married, separated, divorced, or widowed individuals. “This demonstrates that marriage confers not only known social benefits but also downstream physiological benefits, highlighting the unity between mind and body, and between social, mental, and physical health,” said Deborah Vinall, PsyD, LMFT, and Chief Psychological Officer with Recovered, who was not involved in the study. “Loneliness is known to be fatal. This study makes that finding more concrete,” Vinall said. While this study may show another potential health benefit of marriage, more research is needed. Can marriage really prevent cancer? The study analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, focusing on adults ages 30 and older in 12 states. The researchers found that among never-married males, cancer rates were 68 higher than those of males in the ever-married group. For never-married females, the rate was 85 higher than that of females in the ever-married group. “With how heterogeneous both cancer and individual behaviors can be, this is a nuanced question but to generalize broadly, being married is known to decrease exposure to many of the risk factors associated with various malignancies,” said Ketan Thanki, MD, board certified colorectal surgeon who specializes in benign and malignant disease of the colon, rectum, and anus with the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center. Thanki wasn’t involved in the study. The research team notes that these findings probably have multiple causes. For example, some cancers, such as ovarian and endometrial cancers, may be related to reproductive mechanisms. Individuals who have never given birth may be at a higher risk for these cancers. The study also found that in older participants, the correlation between marriage and cancer risk seemed to strengthen. This may suggest that the effects of marriage accumulate over time. It’s also possible that these outcomes are partly due to the way marriage can offer advantages in social support and healthcare. The study researchers suggest that people who are married may be less likely to partake in behaviors that may be considered a risk, pointing to data that shows marriage was strongly associated with lower rates of lung and cervical cancer. Both these cancers are linked to behaviors that may be considered a risk, like smoking, sexual activity, and drinking alcohol. “Married people get screened more,” Thanki suggested. “This is especially true for men who are 20 more likely to get colonoscopies, for example, if married Having a partner to help us manage and afford our lifestyle and food choices and remind us to get our health maintenance checkups seems to help prevent cancer,” said Thanki. Vinall agreed, “Marriage partners are invested in each other’s long-term health and wellness. They may be more likely to encourage one another to engage in health-maintaining efforts such as eating well, exercising, and attending regular doctor’s visits, which can catch problems at a pre-cancerous stage.” “It is interesting to note that while other surveys have found that marriage benefits men’s mental health more than women’s, the reduction in cancer risk identified in this study applies to both genders,” she told Healthline. How being single may affect cancer outcomes Some research suggests that single individuals going through cancer care may have worse outcomes than those who are married. However, others, like DelFattore, argue that this may be due in part to stereotypes held by doctors. More research is needed, and the study authors emphasize that it should focus on how to better support unmarried individuals. It also provides doctors with an opportunity to counsel those without a support system at home. Unmarried people should be encouraged to build a strong support network. “Social support really is the key factor, whether in a partner, friends, or family,” Thanki told Healthline. “Taking that support out of the same home probably diminishes the effect slightly but still, having family and friends who encourage or inspire healthful behaviors, remind you to get your screening, and share meals and activities with you will not only keep you in a healthier and happier mental space but help keep you on top of the physical aspects of health that reduce cancer risk,” Thanki said. Vindall added that it is important to remember “marriage decreases the odds of cancer but does not prevent it. If you are in a happy marriage and cancer still occurs, it is not an indictment of your marriage, love, or care for your spouse.”