Study Finds Living Alone Increases Risk of Cancer Death
A recent study published in the journal Cancer suggests that adults who live alone may have a higher risk of dying from cancer compared to those who live with others. The research, conducted by the American Cancer Society and the US Department of Health and Human Services, analyzed data from over 470,000 adults between 1998 and 2019.
The study found that among the working-age adults who lived alone, 2.5% of them died of cancer during the study period. In comparison, among adults who lived with others, a smaller percentage of 1.6% died of cancer. The strongest association was found in adults aged 45 to 64.
Dr. Farhad Islami, an author of the study and senior scientific director of cancer disparity research at the American Cancer Society, stated, “We found that working adults living alone had a 1.32 times higher risk of cancer death than adults living with others. This suggests that adults living alone have about a 32% higher risk of cancer death.”
The study also highlighted the increasing trend of adults living alone in the United States. The proportion of one-person households has more than doubled from 1960 to 2022, with 29% of households now consisting of individuals living alone.
Living alone is not the same as feeling lonely or isolated, as emphasized by US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in May. However, the study suggests that living alone may contribute to social isolation, which can have adverse health effects. Adults living alone were more likely to have poor self-reported health status, activity limitations, psychological distress, severe obesity, smoking habits, or alcohol consumption.
The association between living alone and cancer mortality persisted even after accounting for sociodemographic, behavioral, and health characteristics. The researchers pointed out that communities from racial and ethnic minority groups, people of lower socioeconomic status, and those with stronger social support systems may have alleviated the association between living alone and cancer mortality.
Further research is needed to understand the exact mechanisms underlying the association between living alone and cancer death. Nevertheless, the study’s findings stress the significance of addressing social isolation and living alone, both in the general population and among cancer survivors.
Living alone can present challenges for individuals undergoing cancer treatment or dealing with its side effects. These individuals may lack the energy to reach out to others or experience reduced physical function that hampers social interactions. The study suggests that the support, care, and advocacy received from being in a relationship with others may play a role in reducing cancer mortality risks.
As the proportion of adults living alone continues to rise, it is crucial to find ways to reduce the adverse effects of social isolation and promote social connections for better health outcomes.