Impact of sociodemographic characteristics on underemployment in a longitudinal, nationally representative study of cancer survivors: Evidence for the importance of gender and marital status

• Authors: Erin E. Kent, National Cancer Institute; Amy Davidoff, Yale University; Janet S. de Moor, National Cancer Institute; Timothy S. McNeel, Information Management Services, Inc; Katherine Virgo, Emory University; Diarmuid Coughlan, National Cancer Institute; Xuesong Han, Emory University; Donatus U. Ekwueme, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Gery P. Guy, Jr., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Matthew P. Banegas, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research; Catherine M. Alfano, American Cancer Society; Emily C. Dowling, Massachusetts General Hospital; Karen Yabroff, Emory University
• Journal Title: JOURNAL OF PSYCHOSOCIAL ONCOLOGY
• Volume: Volume 36, Number 3
• Publisher: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD | 2018-01-01, Pages 287-303
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/07347332.2018.1440274
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Oncology; Gender Studies; Health Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Keywords: Social Sciences; Psychology, Social; Psychology; cancer; employment; gender; marital status; neoplasms; oncology; BREAST-CANCER; EMPLOYMENT STATUS; HEALTH-INSURANCE; ECONOMIC BURDEN; OLDER WORKERS; RETURN; QUALITY; REHABILITATION; CHALLENGES; EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Background: We examined the longitudinal association between sociodemographic factors and an expanded definition of underemployment among those with and without cancer history in the United States. Methods: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data (2007–2013) were used in multivariable regression analyses to compare employment status between baseline and two-year follow-up among adults aged 25–62 years at baseline (n = 1,614 with and n = 39,324 without cancer). Underemployment was defined as becoming/staying unemployed, changing from full to part-time, or reducing part-time work significantly. Interaction effects between cancer history/time since diagnosis and predictors known to be associated with employment patterns, including age, gender/marital status, education, and health insurance status at baseline were modeled. Results: Approximately 25% of cancer survivors and 21% of individuals without cancer reported underemployment at follow-up (p = 0.002). Multivariable analyses indicated that those with a cancer history report underemployment more frequently (24.7%) than those without cancer (21.4%, p = 0.002) with underemployment rates increasing with time since cancer diagnosis. A significant interaction between gender/marital status and cancer history and underemployment was found (p = 0.0004). There were no other significant interactions. Married female survivors diagnosed >10 years ago reported underemployment most commonly (38.7%), and married men without cancer reported underemployment most infrequently (14.0%). A wider absolute difference in underemployment reports for married versus unmarried women as compared to married versus unmarried men was evident, with the widest difference apparent for unmarried versus married women diagnosed >10 years ago (18.1% vs. 38.7%). Conclusion: Cancer survivors are more likely to experience underemployment than those without cancer. Longer time since cancer diagnosis and gender/marital status are critical factors in predicting those at greatest risk of underemployment. The impact of cancer on work should be systematically studied across sociodemographic groups and recognized as a component of comprehensive survivorship care.