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Journal of Cancer Survivorship
Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship 2/2016

01-04-2016

Adult survivors of childhood cancers’ identity disclosures in the workplace

Authors: Larry R. Martinez, Michelle R. Hebl

Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship | Issue 2/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

Recent medical advances have resulted in unprecedented increases in the number and vitality of employed adult survivors. These survivors must make decisions about whether or not to disclose their identities to others. The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics that are related to cancer survivorship disclosure in workplace settings (perceived organizational support, centrality of survivorship to one’s self-concept, and the degree to which family and friends know about one’s survivor status) and an important organizational consequence: intentions to leave one’s job.

Methods

A total of 151 adult survivors of childhood cancer completed an online survey.

Results

Extent of disclosure of one’s identity as a cancer survivor was negatively associated with turnover intentions. Furthermore, organizational support, identity centrality, and disclosure outside of work were all related to disclosure in the workplace. Relative weight analysis revealed that disclosure outside of work was the most strongly related to disclosure at work. Finally, there were indirect relations such that disclosure mediated the relations among organizational support, identity centrality, and disclosure outside of work and turnover intentions.

Conclusions

Survivors who were more open about their cancer survivor status at work had fewer intentions to leave their organizations. Importantly, although some antecedents to disclosure were personal characteristics, organizations can also encourage identity disclosure demonstrating that they are related to of work retention.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

While disclosure in the workplace is a complex decision to make, the relationship with work retention may reflect that disclosure is more likely to occur in an existing positive work environment or that disclosure itself may contribute to a positive work environment where employees tend to remain. The specific factors that trigger both disclosure and retention require further study although they are clearly related.
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Metadata
Title
Adult survivors of childhood cancers’ identity disclosures in the workplace
Authors
Larry R. Martinez
Michelle R. Hebl
Publication date
01-04-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Cancer Survivorship / Issue 2/2016
Print ISSN: 1932-2259
Electronic ISSN: 1932-2267
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-015-0487-2

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