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) survi- vors 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 sur- vivors (6.75%) and healthy controls (93.25%). Participants completed the Work Abil- ity Index and Trait-Meta-Mood Scales. Descriptive statistical and serial mediation analyses were conducted to explore the mechanism by which PEI influences the rela- tionship 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 rel- evance of PEI as a covitality factor that enhances WA. Our research offers vital sup- port for the need to improve emotional competences in BC patients to increase WA levels and return to work odds.