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Marriage and divorce among young adult cancer survivors

Journal of Cancer Survivorship volume 6, pages 441–450 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

We examined marital outcomes among cancer survivors diagnosed during early adulthood from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System dataset.

Methods

Eligible participants were ages 20–39 years. Of the 74,433 eligible, N = 1,198 self-reported a cancer diagnosis between the ages of 18 and 37, were ≥2 years past diagnosis, and did not have non-melanoma skin cancer. The remaining N = 67,063 were controls. Using generalized linear models adjusted for age, gender, race, and education, we generated relative risks (RR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) to examine survivor status on indicators of ever married, currently married, and divorced/separated.

Results

Survivors were slightly older than controls [33.0 (SD = 3.8) vs. 30.0 (SD = 4.0); p < 0.001]. Average time since diagnosis was 7.4 years. Most common diagnoses were cervical (females; 45 %) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (males; 20 %). Survivors were less likely to be currently married than controls (58 % vs. 64 %; RR = 0.92, 95 % CI 0.85–0.99). Among ever married participants, survivors were at an increased risk of divorce/separation than controls (18 % vs. 10 %; RR = 1.77, 95 % CI 1.43–2.19). Divorce/separation risk persisted for female survivors (RR 1.83, 95 % CI 1.49–2.25), survivors ages 20–29 (RR 2.57, 95 % CI 1.53–4.34), and survivors ages 30–39 (RR 1.62, 95 % CI 1.29–2.04).

Conclusions

The emotional and financial burdens of cancer may lead to marital stress for younger cancer survivors.

Implications for cancer survivors

Young survivors may face a higher risk of divorce; support systems are needed to assist them in the years following diagnosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Children’s Cancer Research, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Anne C. Kirchhoff & Jennifer Wright

  2. Cancer Control and Population Sciences Research Program, Huntsman Cancer Institute, 2000 Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Anne C. Kirchhoff, Jaehee Yi, Echo L. Warner & Ken R. Smith

  3. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Anne C. Kirchhoff & Jennifer Wright

  4. College of Social Work, University of Utah, 395 South 1500 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Jaehee Yi

  5. Family and Consumer Studies, University of Utah, 675 Arapeen Suite 200, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Ken R. Smith

  6. Primary Children’s Medical Center, 100 N Mario Capecchi Dr, Salt Lake City, UT, 84113, USA

    Jennifer Wright

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  1. Anne C. Kirchhoff
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  2. Jaehee Yi
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Correspondence to Anne C. Kirchhoff.

Additional information

Anne Kirchhoff is supported by the Huntsman Cancer Institute/Huntsman Cancer Foundation.

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Kirchhoff, A.C., Yi, J., Wright, J. et al. Marriage and divorce among young adult cancer survivors. J Cancer Surviv 6, 441–450 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-012-0238-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-012-0238-6

Keywords

  • Young adult cancer survivors
  • Cancer survivorship
  • Marriage
  • Divorce