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Long-Term Employment Outcomes among Female Cancer Survivors

Author

Listed:
  • Christine C. Ekenga

    (Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA)

  • Eunsun Kwon

    (Department of Social Work, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN 56301, USA)

  • BoRin Kim

    (Department of Social Work, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA)

  • Sojung Park

    (Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA)

Abstract

Advances in early detection and treatment have led to a growing population of female cancer survivors, many of whom are of working age. We examined the relationship between cancer and long-term (>5 years) employment outcomes in a nationally representative sample of working-age women in the United States. Data from nine waves of the Health and Retirement Study were used to examine employment status and weekly hours worked among cancer survivors ( n = 483) and women without cancer ( n = 6605). We used random slope regression models to estimate the impact of cancer and occupation type on employment outcomes. There was no difference in employment status between cancer survivors and women without cancer at baseline; however, during follow-up, cancer survivors were more likely to be employed than women without cancer (odds ratio (OR) = 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11–1.58). Among 6–10-year survivors, professional workers were less likely (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.21–0.74) to be employed than manual workers. Among >10-year survivors, professional workers averaged fewer weekly hours worked (−2.4 h, 95% CI: −4.4–−0.47) than manual workers. The impact of cancer on long-term employment outcomes may differ by occupation type. Identifying the occupation-specific mechanisms associated with the return to work will be critical to developing targeted strategies to promote employment in the growing female cancer survivor population.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine C. Ekenga & Eunsun Kwon & BoRin Kim & Sojung Park, 2020. "Long-Term Employment Outcomes among Female Cancer Survivors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:8:p:2751-:d:346318
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vo Kiasuwa-mbengi Regine Levo & Renée Otter & Katrien Mortelmans & Marc Arbyn & Herman Van Oyen & Catherine Bouland & Christophe De Brouwer, 2016. "Barriers and opportunities for return-to-work of cancer survivors: Time for action-rapid review and expert consultation," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/231176, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
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