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Study Links Marital Status to Lower Cancer Incidence in US Adults
A study analyzing over 100 million US adults found that never-married individuals have higher cancer rates compared to those who are or were married. Men who never married showed 68% higher incidence, while women had 85% higher. The research highlights marital status as a potential social factor influencing cancer risk.
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A study published in Cancer Research Communications examined cancer incidence by marital status among US adults aged 30 and older. Researchers from the University of Miami analyzed data from more than 100 million people and over 4 million cancer cases diagnosed between 2015 and 2022.
The findings indicate that never-married adults experienced higher cancer rates than those currently or previously married.
Never-married men had a 68% higher cancer incidence compared to married men. For never-married women, the increase was 85%. The association strengthened among individuals aged 55 and older, with differences accumulating over time.
“— Paulo Pinheiro, co-author and professor of cancer epidemiology, University of Miami, 2024 (Euronews)”
The study grouped marital status into never-married and ever-married categories, including separated, divorced, and widowed individuals. It covered all malignant cancers diagnosed from age 30, aligning with the average US first-marriage age. Data sources included national health surveys and cancer registries.
rates among never-married adults varied by cancer type. Never-married men had nearly five times the rate of anal cancer compared to married men. Never-married women faced almost three times the rate of cervical cancer. Oesophageal, liver, and lung cancer rates were approximately double for never-married individuals of both sexes compared to married ones.
These patterns suggest influences beyond demographics like age, race, and socioeconomic status. The researchers attributed potential factors to marriage-related benefits, including greater social support, healthier behaviors such as reduced alcohol and tobacco use, more stable sexual patterns, and economic security.
