Study suggests loneliness in men can lead to cancer

The findings of a recent study by the University of Eastern Finland researchers suggest that loneliness among middle-aged men is associated with an increased risk of cancer.

According to the researchers, taking account of loneliness and social relationships should thus be an important part of comprehensive health care and disease prevention. The findings were published in Psychiatry Research.

"It has been estimated, on the basis of studies carried out in recent years, that loneliness could be a significant health risk as smoking or obesity. Our findings support the idea that attention should be paid to this issue," project researcher Siiri-Liisi Kraav from the University of Eastern Finland said.

The study was launched in the 1980s with 2,570 middle-aged men from eastern Finland participating. Their health and mortality have been monitored on the basis of registered data up until the present day. During the follow-up, 649 men, 25 per cent of the participants, developed cancer, and a total of 283 men, 11 per cent of the total participants, died of cancer. Loneliness had increased the risk of cancer by about ten per cent.

This association with the risk of cancer was observed regardless of age, socio-economic status, lifestyle, sleep quality, depression symptoms, body mass index, heart disease, and their risk factors. In addition, mortality rate was higher in cancer patients who were unmarried, widowed, or divorced at baseline.

"Awareness of the health effects of loneliness is constantly increasing. Therefore, it is important to examine, in more detail, the mechanisms by which loneliness causes adverse health effects. This information would enable us to better alleviate loneliness and the harm caused by it, as well as to find optimal ways to target preventive measures."