WeCanWork study: well-being of male cancer survivors working physically demanding jobs
Abstract Background Male cancer survivors performing physically demanding work have received less attention in the scientific literature compared to other groups. We hypothesized that men newly diagnosed with cancer have better well-being if they have less physically demanding jobs. Methods Seventy-...
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2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23147-8 |
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| author | Natalie V. Schwatka Miranda Dally Amy Dye-Robinson Liliana Tenney Carol E Brown Madison Goering Brian Williams Lee S Newman Cathy J Bradley |
| author_facet | Natalie V. Schwatka Miranda Dally Amy Dye-Robinson Liliana Tenney Carol E Brown Madison Goering Brian Williams Lee S Newman Cathy J Bradley |
| author_sort | Natalie V. Schwatka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Male cancer survivors performing physically demanding work have received less attention in the scientific literature compared to other groups. We hypothesized that men newly diagnosed with cancer have better well-being if they have less physically demanding jobs. Methods Seventy-six male workers completed the NIOSH Worker Well-being Questionnaire (WellBQ) approximately three months after starting cancer treatment. We used descriptive statistics to describe the demographics and worker well-being of the study sample and pooled t-tests to determine whether there were differences between respondents who had more physically demanding work and those with fewer physical demands. Results Male cancer survivors with physically demanding jobs reported poorer wage (p < 0.001)and benefit (p = 0.04) satisfaction, less autonomy (p = 0.03) and flexibility (p = 0.004), and greater financial insecurity (p = 0.002). They also experienced more negative job attitudes (p = 0.0003), and workplace safety concerns (p < 0.001) and less sleep (p = 0.05), with less support outside of work (p = 0.03) compared to men with less physically demanding jobs. Conclusions Our study highlights worker well-being differences approximately three months after initiating cancer treatment between men with and without physically demanding jobs. There are opportunities for employers to support worker well-being, specifically those with physically demanding jobs. Additionally, male cancer survivors with physically demanding jobs may need greater support outside of the workplace. Future research with a larger and longitudinal sample of male cancer survivors could inform how to support survivors from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e4d6b4f4f16e4b3d94004cdf40528e45 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-e4d6b4f4f16e4b3d94004cdf40528e452025-08-20T02:00:14ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-05-0125111010.1186/s12889-025-23147-8WeCanWork study: well-being of male cancer survivors working physically demanding jobsNatalie V. Schwatka0Miranda Dally1Amy Dye-Robinson2Liliana Tenney3Carol E Brown4Madison Goering5Brian Williams6Lee S Newman7Cathy J Bradley8Centers for Health, Work & Environment, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical CampusCenters for Health, Work & Environment, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical CampusCenters for Health, Work & Environment, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical CampusCenters for Health, Work & Environment, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical CampusCenters for Health, Work & Environment, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical CampusCenters for Health, Work & Environment, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical CampusDepartment of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Schol of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical CenterCenters for Health, Work & Environment, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical CampusDepartment of Health Systems, Management, and Policy, Colorado School of Public Health, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Colorado, University of ColoradoAbstract Background Male cancer survivors performing physically demanding work have received less attention in the scientific literature compared to other groups. We hypothesized that men newly diagnosed with cancer have better well-being if they have less physically demanding jobs. Methods Seventy-six male workers completed the NIOSH Worker Well-being Questionnaire (WellBQ) approximately three months after starting cancer treatment. We used descriptive statistics to describe the demographics and worker well-being of the study sample and pooled t-tests to determine whether there were differences between respondents who had more physically demanding work and those with fewer physical demands. Results Male cancer survivors with physically demanding jobs reported poorer wage (p < 0.001)and benefit (p = 0.04) satisfaction, less autonomy (p = 0.03) and flexibility (p = 0.004), and greater financial insecurity (p = 0.002). They also experienced more negative job attitudes (p = 0.0003), and workplace safety concerns (p < 0.001) and less sleep (p = 0.05), with less support outside of work (p = 0.03) compared to men with less physically demanding jobs. Conclusions Our study highlights worker well-being differences approximately three months after initiating cancer treatment between men with and without physically demanding jobs. There are opportunities for employers to support worker well-being, specifically those with physically demanding jobs. Additionally, male cancer survivors with physically demanding jobs may need greater support outside of the workplace. Future research with a larger and longitudinal sample of male cancer survivors could inform how to support survivors from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23147-8Total worker healthWorker well-beingJob demandsCancer survivorshipEmploymentWork demands |
| spellingShingle | Natalie V. Schwatka Miranda Dally Amy Dye-Robinson Liliana Tenney Carol E Brown Madison Goering Brian Williams Lee S Newman Cathy J Bradley WeCanWork study: well-being of male cancer survivors working physically demanding jobs BMC Public Health Total worker health Worker well-being Job demands Cancer survivorship Employment Work demands |
| title | WeCanWork study: well-being of male cancer survivors working physically demanding jobs |
| title_full | WeCanWork study: well-being of male cancer survivors working physically demanding jobs |
| title_fullStr | WeCanWork study: well-being of male cancer survivors working physically demanding jobs |
| title_full_unstemmed | WeCanWork study: well-being of male cancer survivors working physically demanding jobs |
| title_short | WeCanWork study: well-being of male cancer survivors working physically demanding jobs |
| title_sort | wecanwork study well being of male cancer survivors working physically demanding jobs |
| topic | Total worker health Worker well-being Job demands Cancer survivorship Employment Work demands |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23147-8 |
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