Why Are Married People More Likely to Survive Cancer?

Fr. Mark Hodges : Apr 27, 2016
LifeSiteNews

"This study shows that the marriage premium cannot be explained away by economic factors. While the benefits of marriage are greater for men than for women, both men and women benefit from marriage." -Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse

(Fremont, CA)—Studies have long shown that married people with cancer live longer, but a new study investigates why. (Photo via Wikipedia)

According to researchers from Fremont's Cancer Prevention Institute of California, and the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, the longevity-producing factor in marriage is neither money nor economic status, but the personal and emotional support of the marital union.

They analyzed 783,167 cancer patients in the new study, "Effects of marital status and economic resources on survival after cancer," published online in CANCER, a journal of the American Cancer Society.

The researchers found that the risk of death was 27 percent greater for unmarried men stricken with cancer than for married men, and 19 percent higher for unmarried women. 

After correcting for socioeconomic differences, they still found unmarried men 22 percent more likely to succumb to cancer, and unmarried women 15 percent more likely to die. (Photo via Pixabay)

The findings have direct implications on American society, where a trend toward cohabitation continues to grow.

Co-lead researcher Dr. Scarlett Lin Gomez explained to Science Daily, "While other studies have found similar protective effects associated with being married, ours is the first in a large population-based setting to assess the extent to which economic resources explain these protective effects."

"Our study provides evidence for social support as a key driver," Dr. Gomez concluded.

Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, founder and president of the Ruth Institute for Family Studies, told LifeSiteNews, "This study of cancer patients adds to the growing body of research...

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