Return to work after cancer: Improved mental health in working cancer survivors

Abstract

Objective Aim of the study was to compare working and non‐working patients over a period of 12 months regarding socio‐demographic, cancer‐specific and mental health parameters. Methods This study was conducted as part of a Germany‐wide longitudinal survey among 1398 patients in 13 national Comprehensive Cancer Centers. The sample used for analysis consisted of n = 430 cancer patients younger than 65 years (age M = 52.4 years, SD = 8.1; 67.0% females). Socio‐demographic, cancer‐specific and mental health parameters (Depression: Patient Health Questionnaire, Anxiety: Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Distress: Distress Thermometer) were assessed at baseline during hospitalization and at 12 months follow‐up. Results 73.7% of all patients (n = 317) have returned to work after one year. While working and non‐working patients did not differ in socio‐demographic parameters, there were significant differences in the presence of metastases, tumor and treatment status. Mixed analysis of variances revealed significant interactions between working status and time for depression (p = 0.009), anxiety (p = 0.003) and distress (p = 0.007). Non‐working patients reported higher levels of depression, anxiety and distress than working patients over time. A logistic regression showed significant associations between lower depression (p = 0.019), lower distress (p = 0.033) and the absence of a tumor (p = 0.015) with working status. Conclusions The majority of cancer survivors returned to work. Non‐working patients had higher levels of depression, anxiety and distress than working patients. After controlling for cancer‐specific factors, mental health parameters were still independently associated with working status. Return to work can thus be associated with an improved mental health in cancer survivors. In order to establish causality, further research is necessary.

Research on Cancer Screening Promotion and Employment Support for Employees with Cancer at Business Establishments

“…36 Lieb et al reported that non-workers had higher levels of depression, anxiety, and distress than workers. 9 Yang et al study on the return to work and…”

“…8 It has been reported that returning to the workplace by patients with cancer who had previously worked improves their mental health and prognosis. 9,10 For employees with cancer to balance work and treatment, support from employers and coworkers and their understanding of cancer and its treatments are important.…”

Health‐related quality of life and survival outcomes for patients with major depressive disorder and anxiety: A longitudinal study in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

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Development of strategy for lowering post COVID-19 impact on working women health

“…Stress factors have multiplied, especially among working women, making them more psychologically vulnerable than they were before this pandemic and easy prey to psychological distress. Also, the sweeping physiological effects of COVID-19 infections in 2020 and 2021, the psychosocial impacts of lockdowns, social distancing, and the associated disruptions to daily life have brought on a simultaneous mental health crisis, particularly among many working mothers who are disproportionately balancing childcare, virtual schooling, and employment vulnerability [13,14]. However, there are also studies underpinning our results that did not find any association of socio-demographic data with return to work, such as sex, [15,16] age, [17] marital status [18] and education.…”