Boosting return to work after breast cancer: The mediator role of perceived emotional intelligence

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to explore work ability (WA) in breast cancer (BC) survivors and to examine the mechanism by which perceived emotional intelligence (PEI) acts as a covitality factor that preserves WA and promotes the return to work in this clinical population. Methods: The sample was composed of 622 women divided into two groups: BC survivors (6.75%) and healthy controls (93.25%). Participants completed the Work Ability Index and Trait-Meta-Mood Scales. Descriptive statistical and serial mediation analyses were conducted to explore the mechanism by which PEI influences the relationship between BC survivors and WA. Results: Preliminary descriptive analysis showed that BC survivors displayed lower levels of WA than healthy controls. The overall serial mediation analysis revealed that BC and PEI predicted 35.4% of the variance of WA. The direct effects showed that BC and age decrease WA. Regarding PEI, our results indicated that emotional clarity and mood repair lead to higher WA, while emotional attention decreased the ability to work in both, the BC sample and healthy controls. The mediation analysis revealed that WA could be preserved in BC survivors by an indirect effect through mood repair. Conclusions: Our findings support previous research demonstrating that BC patients have lower levels of WA compared to healthy controls. This study highlighted the relevance of PEI as a covitality factor that enhances WA. Our research offers vital support for the need to improve emotional competences in BC patients to increase WA levels and return to work odds.

Experiencing anxiety in breast cancer survival: Does perceived emotional intelligence matter?

“…In this sense, it would be important to know whether a differentiated profile of PEI between BC survivors and free‐disease women could directly or indirectly explain the anxiety experienced. This theoretical model has been tested in our previous research for workability, depression, resilience, and post‐traumatic growth, finding that low or high levels of EA have shown an indirect negative impact by its effect on EC and ER, 8,9 since patients' ability to understand and repair emotions act as a protective factors 8,9,36,37 . We now replicate this model for anxiety.…”

“…This theoretical model has been tested in our previous research for workability, depression, resilience, and post-traumatic growth, finding that low or high levels of EA have shown an indirect negative impact by its effect on EC and ER, 8,9 since patients' ability to understand and repair emotions act as a protective factors. 8,9,36,37 We now replicate this model for anxiety.…”

“…Its statistical analysis aims at establishing theoretical models that identify psychosocial resources of risk and protection in their quality of life compared to free‐disease women. As a result of this research, we have published articles showing the indirect processes by which PEI mediates between BC survival and resilience, workability, post‐traumatic growth, and depression 8,9,36,37 …”

Research on return to work for colorectal cancer survivors: A bibliometric analysis

“…5). One reason may be the majority of RTW survivors are breast and prostate cancer patients [43,44], and there are also quite a few colorectal cancer patients [4]. Another reason has to do with the epidemiology of cancer.…”

Enhancing Emotional Skills of Managers to Support the Return to Work of Cancer Survivors: A Research Opinion Focusing on Value, Feasibility and Challenges

“…To the best of our knowledge, ES interventions for managers in the context of RTW after cancer have not been studied in the scientific literature, whereas previous research showed that ES interventions could be easily implemented and assessed (Kotsou et al, 2019 ; Mattingly and Kraiger, 2019 ). Current research primarily focuses on cancer survivors' ES in the return to work process with one study conducted by Gómez-Molinero and Guil ( 2020 ). The descriptive and mediation analysis results suggested that developing breast cancer patients' ES could enhance work ability and probability of successful RTW.…”