The impact of changes in employment status on psychosocial well-being: A study of breast cancer survivors

Recent developments in the treatment of cancer have resulted in an increase in the number of cancer survivors. With this increase in the survival rate comes an increase in questions as to how a diagnosis of cancer and its treatment affects survivors and their well-being. Research has emphasized the impact that medical factors related to cancer have on the well-being of cancer survivors. However, the literature also suggests that socioeconomic factors may affect cancer survivors; well-being. This study focuses on the role that employment status plays in relationship to the levels of psychosocial well-being of women diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer. This study was a cross-sectional design utilizing secondary data analysis. The sample consisted of 369 breast cancer survivors from four cancer treatment facilities in the Mid-Atlantic region. The independent variable was employment status during and after treatment and the dependent variables were psychological distress, physical and mental functioning and quality of life. Utilizing analysis of covariance, controlling for age at diagnosis and stage of cancer it was found that there was a statistically significant difference in the dependent variables by employment status. These findings are discussed in terms of clinical and policy implications.