Employment quality in adult survivors of childhood cancer

Background: Adult survivors of childhood cancer can have lower employment participation outcomes including employment quality. This study is aimed to identify factors that predict employment quality in this growing population. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 296 currently employed adult survivors of childhood malignancy participating in the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study. Cancer and treatment conditions were abstracted from medical records. Health status and work-related variables were determined from surveys and validated instruments. Multiple Regression and Correlation (MRC) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) methods were performed to investigate the relationships among the variables in the model which was developed from the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model. Results: Survivors’ work engagement and positive reactions from colleagues predicted employment quality in terms of job satisfaction, turnover intentions, performance and organizational commitment. Survivors’ work engagement accounted for the indirect effects of emotional health and positive reactions from colleagues on employment quality. Emotional health accounted for the indirect effects of physical health, age at diagnosis, and positive reactions from colleagues on employment quality. Conclusions: Treatment and health, personal and environmental factors both influence survivors’ employment quality. It is likely that tailored interventions targeting on these factors may support greater employment quality in adult survivors of childhood cancer.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Community Health

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Wong, Wing Kai

Contributors dc:contributor

• Strauser, David R.
• Alston, Reginald J.
• Andrade, Flavia
• Chan, Fong

• Employment Quality
• Childhood Cancer
• Employment Outcomes
• Work Behaviors
• Rehabilitation
• Malignant Tumor

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2012 Wing Kai Wong

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/34209

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/34209