A new study from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has found a startling link between marital status and cancer risk. Researchers analyzed over 4 million cancer cases across 12 states from 2015 to 2022, revealing that adults who have never married are far more likely to develop cancer than those who are or have been married.
Men who never married were about 70% more likely to develop cancer than married men. For women, the risk was even more pronounced: those who never married were roughly 85% more likely to get cancer.
The disparities are stark for specific cancers. Never-married men have roughly five times the rate of anal cancer, while never-married women face nearly three times the rate of cervical cancer. These cancers are strongly linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV), suggesting differences in exposure and screening.
The protective effect of marriage appears to be tied to lifestyle factors like lower smoking and drinking rates, as well as increased social support. The study's authors emphasize marriage itself isn't a cure, but the health benefits associated with it are significant and appear to build over time.
Black men who never married had the highest overall cancer rates, yet married Black men had lower rates than married white men, suggesting a particularly strong protective effect of marriage for that group.
The findings come at a time when marriage rates are declining in the U.S., prompting researchers to call for further investigation into the underlying causes and potential public health interventions.