Promoting work ability in breast cancer survivors: the moderated-mediation role of emotion regulation decreasing subjective cognitive impairment

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the role of emotion regulation and subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) in the work ability of breast cancer (BC) survivors. Methods: : A total of 623 women, divided into two groups, BC survivors (N=43) and healthy controls (N=580), completed our online survey that included the Work Ability Index, the Trait-Meta-Mood Scale, and the Cognitive Function Scale of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life. Descriptive statistical and moderated-mediation analyses were performed to explore the mechanisms by which emotion regulation influences the mediation role of SCI in the relationship between BC and WA. Results: : Preliminary analysis showed that BC survivors had significantly lower WA levels [F(1,622)=207.64; p<.001] and higher emotion regulation [F(1,622)=4.58; p<.05] and SCI [F(1,622)=4.26; p<.05] that healthy controls. Moderated-mediation analysis indicated that SCI mediated the relationship between BC and WA (B=-11.81, p<.001). Besides, the negative effect that BC exerted on SCI was moderated by emotional regulation [R2=.09, F(1,619)=13.77, p<.05]. This effect was significant for BC patients with low (B=.68; p<.001) and adequate emotion regulation levels (B=.44; p.05). Conclusions: : High emotion regulation levels could reduce the negative impact of BC on WA by decreasing the SCI of BC survivors. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Emotion regulation training could be a valuable part of interventions aimed to enhance the WA of BC survivors due to its ability to reduce the subjective cognitive complaints of these patients.