Study indicates that adults who have never married may experience a greater risk of cancer.

Study Finds Marriage is Associated with Lower Cancer Risk

According to new research from the University of Miami, adults who have never married have a significantly higher likelihood of developing cancer.

This extensive study, involving over 4 million Americans across 12 states, revealed that the increased cancer risk spans nearly all major types of cancer. This is particularly relevant for preventable cancers, often linked to factors like smoking and infections.

Specifically, it was found that men who haven’t married are 70% more likely to get cancer compared to their married counterparts. For women, the gap is even larger; unmarried women face an 85% higher risk of developing cancer.

While previous research has linked marriage to improved survival rates post-diagnosis, this study stands out by suggesting that marital status might be a crucial factor in a person’s initial cancer risk.

Paulo Pinheiro, research professor of epidemiology at the University of Miami, highlighted in a press release that “these findings suggest that social factors, like marital status, may be important indicators of cancer risk at a population level.”

The research team analyzed cancer diagnoses from individuals aged 30 and older between 2015 and 2022, considering various cancers while accounting for marital status. They broke down the data by gender and race, adjusting for age differences.

Interestingly, unmarried adult men were found to be almost five times more susceptible to anal cancer than those who were married. In addition, adult women who had never been married were nearly three times as likely to develop cervical cancer compared to those who were or had been married.

Frank Penedo, director of the Sylvester Institute for Survival and Supportive Care at the University of Miami, commented that “this is a clear and strong signal that some individuals are at greater risk.”

For women, being married—and often having children—was linked to a reduced risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer, likely due to hormonal and biological factors associated with pregnancy, according to researchers.

However, experts caution that these findings do not imply marriage is a preventive measure against cancer. Penedo added that “if you’re not married, it’s essential to pay extra attention to your cancer risk factors, get the necessary tests, and stay informed about the latest medical information.”

The researchers proposed that those who are married may tend to engage in healthier lifestyles, smoking and drinking less, which could also impact the findings. They emphasized that further studies are necessary to confirm these results.