Study suggests marriage is linked to lower cancer risk, especially for women

[Fabler]

I have just read the details of a new study based at Anglia Ruskin university which found that marriage or having ever been married seems to prevent cancer. It is obviously not the act of getting married but for some unknown reason people who have been married or who are married are much less likely to develop cancer. Again, surprisingly, women benefit more than men. Researchers don't know why although they hypothesise a few ideas.
Worth a look though.
https://theconversation.com/does-marriage-prevent-cancer-and-who-benefits-the-most-280297
It has since been picked up by lots of news agencies

It is being reported in lots of news agencies now.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/married-people-lower-chance-cancer-b2955458.html

Hmm. Just on a quick read, 2 income families here in the US usually means better health insurance which means more screenings and regular physicals and tests where cancers are caught.

That said, everyone I know who died of cancer had been or were married.

Control for health insurance coverage and level of coverage would be interesting. It really, really, really affects our health care.

The study shows a strong correlation between marital status and cancer risk, but that likely reflects underlying social inequalities, rather than a direct causal effect of marriage itself.

It could be seen as a marker of advantage really, as people who get married tend to be more economically stable and overall enjoy good health. This means marriage simply reflects pre-existing advantages, rather than producing them.

I once read about a link between cancer and childless women as apparently going through the process of pregnancy and breastfeeding etc which is good for the female body in offsetting cancer causing hormones or something? I suppose they’ve adjusted for that though.

Yes this is certainly true of hormone related cancer - breast, uterine, cervical etc

My mum, dad, grandma, grandad, aunt, cousin were all married and died of cancer before they were 64 (no recovery in my family) so as a single woman I'll take all that crap about being married with a very big pinch of salt, thanks.

It is not crap. It is research from a number of reputable universities.
Do you disregard all scientific research?

There will be lots of reasons. Unmarried people may have more sexual partners over their lifetime than people who have been married for most of their lives. That alone will increase their risk of some cancers. There will be loads more factors at play too, that’s just one example.

Like I said, I take it with a big pinch of salt and illustrated that in my family it’s absolutely not the case.

Well as with any study, they don’t deal in absolutes. They identify correlations in social life, but correlation doesn’t mean causation.

The authors themselves emphasise that it’s more about the underlying social context than marriage itself. Also even if causation were confidently established (it can’t be in this particular case) there will be instances where it holds true, and where it does not.

These type of studies don’t delve into the individual experience.

Yes, because I’m probably going to be dead from a DH caused heart attack or stress related breakdown before anything else gets me 🤨

You could just say "I don't understand statistics" and leave it at that. It would save you a lot of typing.

Reputable universities can do poor quality research - I work at one! This is correlation not causation. Marriage is more common in wealthier people who are statistically more likely to have healthier lifestyles and access to better healthcare.

The right wing 'women should be married, barefoot and chained to the kitchen sink' dingbats are going to love this correlation.