Married Adults Are Less Likely to Get Cancer Than Singles, Study Suggests (a ceteris paribus related case)

Support systems and spouses reminding partners to take care of themselves may contribute

By Aylin Woodward of The WSJ. Excerpts:

"Married people tend to have greater economic stability and better support systems, and they are more likely to stick with treatment"

"Unmarried men had five times the rate of anal cancer; unmarried women experienced three times the rate of cervical cancer. Both of these cancers are linked to the sexually transmitted infection HPV, or human papillomavirus, so the incidences might reflect differences in exposure and screening." 

"Married individuals tend to have healthier behaviors overall, including lower smoking and alcohol use, and more stable sexual and reproductive relationships, all of which are risk factors for cancer"

"They are also more likely to engage in preventive care."

One issue here what exactly does marriage cause? Let's look at some of what the article raises:

"Married people tend to have greater economic stability." Certainly, if you are married you and your spouse might have more stability since you might have two incomes. If one person loses their job, there is still money coming in. But, a person who has greater economic stability is a more attractive marriage partner. The better economic situation of the person might allow them to avoid cancer better and make them more likely to get married. It is not clear how much simply getting married matters (I used to joke in class that we could lower the child poverty rate by having kids under 18 get married because married couples have lower poverty rates than average).

"Married individuals tend to have healthier behaviors" Again, people with healthier behaviors are more attractive partners.

"more stable sexual and reproductive relationships" This might mean that you are only having sex with one person, which is healthier. So maybe marriage is having a big impact. Although people who choose marriage might already like monogamy.

"They are also more likely to engage in preventive care." Having a spouse to remind you of appointments, drive you there and bring up health issues in general can help. So marriage might be causing better health here. But again, if you are more likely to engage in preventive care you are a more attractive partner. One other thing for marriage, you might want to stay healthy to please your spouse.

One last thing, the article does not say anything like "getting married, ceteris paribus or holding all other factors constant, causes your chance of getting cancer to fall 20%." That might be hard to find since there are so many other factors that need to be held constant. 

Other ceteris paribus related posts:

Ceteris and the optimal exercise regimen (2026) 

A case of ceteris paribus: does moderate drinking harm your health? (2025) 

Great Moments In Causation Vs. Correlation: Eat more chocolate, win more Nobels? (2012)

Banning Cell Phones While Driving And A Lesson In Ceteris Paribus (2010) 

Tough Professors Are Better For Students In The Long Run (2011)

Will Studying Economics Make You Rich? A Regression Discontinuity Analysis of the Returns to College Major (2023)

Studying Economics Increases Wages a Lot (2020)