Effect of Employment on Coping with Chronic Illness Among Patients with Hairy Cell Leukemia

Abstract

This study examined the role of employment in coping with a chronic illness. A questionnaire that included mood states and coping strategies was administered to 104 men diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia. Comparisons were drawn between atients who were employed, had left the workplace voluntarily, an 8 had left the workplace involuntarily. Tension and depression proved to be significantl higher in the involuntarily unemployed work group than in the other two groups. Involuntarily unemployed atients tended to P use emotionally focused coping strategies more often than did employed or voluntarily unemployed patients. The findings suggest that denial of the opportunity to work after a cancer diagnosis may affect patients' overall adjustment to their illness.