Boosting return to work after breast cancer: The mediator role of perceived emotional intelligence
Funding information: Consejería de Salud, Junta de Andalucía, Grant/Award Number: PIN 109-2018; University Research Institute for Sustainable Social Development (INDESS); Universidad de Cádiz
[Correction added on November 2, 2021, after first online publication: the funding information has been updated.]
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.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors have no conflict of interest to declare related to the findings of this study.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.
