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A study conducted in the US suggests that marital status may be linked to cancer incidence, highlighting the role of social and behavioral factors in health.
In discussions about cancer, the emphasis is usually on factors such as smoking, diet, physical activity, heredity, or access to medical checkups. However, a study published in Cancer Research Communications shows that whether a person is married or not may also be linked to the risk of the disease.
According to researchers from the National University of Athens, the analysis included data from 12 US states for the period 2015–2022, focusing on people over 30 years old. The study analyzed over 4.2 million cancer cases and more than 500 million years of follow-up.
The results showed that people who had never married had a higher incidence of cancer in most categories. In men, the incidence was about 68% higher compared with those who had been married at some point in their lives, while in women it was about 85% higher. This pattern was observed across racial groups, across many types of cancer, and across age groups, becoming more pronounced with age.
Large differences were evident in some specific types of cancer. In men, the largest increase was observed in anal cancer, while in women, in cervical cancer. Changes were also found in cancers related to infections, smoking and alcohol consumption. In contrast, the differences were smaller for thyroid, prostate and, to a lesser extent, breast cancers.
The researchers note that marriage does not directly "protect" against cancer, but may reflect a number of supportive factors, such as stability of daily life, emotional support, economic security and more frequent contact with health services. A partner often encourages preventive check-ups and early medical intervention.
The study also highlights significant inequalities between different population groups, showing that marital status is closely linked to broader social factors, such as poverty, exclusion and access to resources.
However, the authors point out the limitations of the analysis: marital status does not reflect the quality of the relationship, cohabitation or real emotional support. Therefore, the main conclusion is not that marriage reduces the risk of cancer, but that social and behavioral factors play an important role in health.
The main message is that health is not only influenced by biological factors, but also by social conditions and lifestyle.
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