In sickness and in health? A new study found tying the knot may be linked to a lower risk of cancer.
In the study, published April 8 in Cancer Research Communications, researchers found adults who are or have ever been married consistently had lower cancer risk compared to those never married.
The study used eight years of health data from millions of adults ages 30 and older in 12 states.
Although the impact of marriage on other aspects of cancer − such as earlier diagnosis and postdiagnosis outcomes − have previously been studied, few studies have examined cancer incidence by marital status like this one.
Across all types of cancer and in both males and females, never-married adults had significantly higher rates than ever-married individuals, according to the study. "Ever-married" was defined as married, separated, divorced or widowed.
