Psychosocial factors and the risk of cancer: An individual‐participant data meta‐analysis
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Psychosocial factors are argued to increase cancer risk. This study aims to clarify the association between various psychosocial factors and cancer incidence (including breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers) via individual-participant data (IPD) meta-analysis. The psychosocial factors considered were perceived social support (PSS), loss, relationship status, neuroticism, and general distress. METHODS: The Psychosocial Factors and Cancer Incidence consortium used data from 22 cohorts with a measure of at least one psychosocial variable of interest at baseline (up to N = 421,799; cancer incidence, N = 35,319; person-years of follow-up, N = 4,378,582). In stage 1 of the IPD meta-analysis, Cox regression models were used with age as the timescale. In stage 2, results were pooled in random-effects meta-analyses. RESULTS: No psychosocial factors were associated with an increased risk of overall cancer and with breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers, as well as with cancers with alcohol as a common potential causal factor. PSS, currently not in a relationship, and a loss event were associated with an increased risk of lung cancer (hazard ratio [HR], 1.09-1.55). Estimates decreased for PSS and relationship status when adjusting for several known risk factors, such as a family history of cancer (HR, 1.05-1.08). Similar findings were observed for relationship status and cancers with tobacco smoking as a common potential causal factor. CONCLUSIONS: For most types of cancer, psychosocial factors (measured at a single point in time) were not associated with increased risk. PSS, currently not in a relationship, and loss were associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, although most effects attenuated when adjusting for several known risk factors.
Source: Cancer
DOI: 10.1002/cncr.70271
Authors: Lonneke A. van Tuijl, Kuan‐Yu Pan, Maartje Basten, Roel Vermeulen, Lützen Portengen, Alexander de Graeff, Joost Dekker, Mirjam I. Geerlings, Adriaan W. Hoogendoorn, Femke Lamers, Adri C. Voogd, Jessica Abell, Philip Awadalla, Aartjan T. F. Beekman, Ottar Bjerkeset, Andy Boyd, Yunsong Cui, Philipp Frank, Henrike Galenkamp, Bert Garssen, Sean Hellingman, Martijn Huisman, Anke Huss, Trynke R. de Jong, Melanie R. Keats, Almar A. L. Kok, Steinar Krokstad, Flora E. van Leeuwen, Annemarie I. Luik, Nolwenn Noisel, Yves Payette, Brenda W. J. H. Penninx, Ina Rissanen, Annelieke M. Roest, Rikje Ruiter, Robert A. Schoevers, David Soave, Mandy Spaan, Andrew Steptoe, Karien Stronks, Erik R. Sund, Ellen Sweeney, Emma L. Twait, Alison Teyhan, W. M. Monique Verschuren, Kimberly D. van der Willik, Judith G. M. Rosmalen, Adelita V. Ranchor
Institutions: University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Utrecht University, Karolinska Institutet, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, University Medical Center Utrecht, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Maastricht University, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, University College London, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, University of Toronto, Nord University, University of Bristol, Dalhousie University, Wilfrid Laurier University, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Lifelines, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Levanger Hospital, Helse Nord-Trøndelag HF, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Erasmus MC, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Maasstad Ziekenhuis, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,790
OpenAlex ID: W7140079758