Marriage and Mortality in Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Several hypothetical models can explain the association of marital status and mortality in men with prostate cancer. The most attractive model relies on the putative salutary effects of being married on social support and/or mood. A social support and depressed mood model of mortality raises the possibility that in prostate cancer quality of life determines quantity of life. Understanding the relationships among marital status, social support, mood and mortality could open the way to rational strategies for postponing death in men with prostate cancer.