Dumas A, Cailbault I, Perrey C, Oberlin O, De Vathaire F, Amiel P
Gustave Roussy, Department of Clinical Research, Social and Human Sciences Research Unit, Villejuif, F-94805, France.
Gustave Roussy, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Oncology, Villejuif, F-94805, France.
Soc Sci Med. 2015 Jun;135:67-74. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.04.031. Epub 2015 Apr 30.
With the increase in survival from childhood cancer, research has increasingly focused on the educational and professional achievements of childhood cancer survivors. Yet, if large-scale studies provide an acute description of the current situation of childhood cancer survivors, little is known about their trajectories and the social processes shaping these trajectories. Using a qualitative methodology, drawing from a life course perspective, this study sought to describe the role of childhood cancer and its side effects in educational trajectories, as perceived by the participants. We investigated related processes of social adjustment to cancer, that is to say, choices or decisions that survivors related to the illness in the making of their career plans. Eighty long-term French childhood cancer survivors participating in the Euro2K longitudinal study were interviewed through in-depth, face-to-face interviews undertaken in 2011-2012. There were various types of impact described by respondents of the diagnosis of cancer on their trajectories. These varied according to gender. In women, childhood cancer tended to result in poor educational achievement, or in steering the individual towards a health care or child care occupation. This was justified by a desire to return the support that had been offered to them as patients. In men, however, childhood cancer led to a shift in career plans, because of physical sequelae, or because of concerns about their future health. Paradoxically, this limitation had a positive impact in their occupational achievement, as most of these men disregarded blue-collar jobs and chose more qualified white-collar occupations. Overall, findings suggest that childhood cancer influenced educational trajectories and, thus, socioeconomic status in adulthood, through mechanisms embedded in gender norms. These mechanisms could explain gender inequalities in educational achievement after childhood cancer reported in large-scale cohort studies.
随着儿童癌症存活率的提高，研究越来越关注儿童癌症幸存者的教育和职业成就。然而，尽管大规模研究对儿童癌症幸存者的现状进行了详尽描述，但对于他们的人生轨迹以及塑造这些轨迹的社会过程却知之甚少。本研究采用定性研究方法，从生命历程的角度出发，试图描述参与者所感知的儿童癌症及其副作用在教育轨迹中的作用。我们调查了与癌症社会适应相关的过程，也就是说，幸存者在制定职业规划时与疾病相关的选择或决定。通过2011 - 2012年进行的深入面对面访谈，对80名参与欧洲2K纵向研究的法国长期儿童癌症幸存者进行了访谈。受访者描述了癌症诊断对他们人生轨迹的各种影响。这些影响因性别而异。在女性中，儿童癌症往往导致教育成就不佳，或者使个人转向医疗保健或儿童保育职业。这是出于回报作为患者所得到的支持的愿望。然而，在男性中，儿童癌症由于身体后遗症或对未来健康的担忧导致职业规划发生转变。矛盾的是，这种限制对他们的职业成就产生了积极影响，因为这些男性大多放弃了蓝领工作，选择了更具专业性的白领职业。总体而言，研究结果表明，儿童癌症通过性别规范中所蕴含的机制影响了教育轨迹，进而影响了成年后的社会经济地位。这些机制可以解释大规模队列研究中报告的儿童癌症后教育成就方面的性别不平等现象。
