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Aging"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Among the 4.3 million working-age breast cancer survivors in the U.S., employment offers financial stability, purpose, and normalcy. However, many face barriers that hinder workforce participation, including social disconnection. Using a participatory intervention design approach that directly engages survivors, this study aimed to identify root causes of disconnection and prioritize solutions to support psychosocial wellbeing and work retention.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study recruited six employed breast cancer survivors for a design team that used the Intervention Design and Analysis Scorecard\u2019s (IDEAS) Steps 1-5 to develop and prioritize intervention options. The team, facilitated by university researchers, met for seven 1-h sessions. Qualitative data from IDEAS worksheets and meeting notes were analyzed.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Survivors identified three causes of social disconnection: (1) changes in self-concept and worldview, (2) symptom-related social withdrawal, and (3) unsupportive responses from others. The team developed and evaluated three intervention models, considering scope, effectiveness, resources, and barriers. An intervention including written materials, a website, a peer-led support group, and a social media forum, was prioritized as the most feasible and impactful option. A follow-up study will pilot-test the intervention to assess effects on wellbeing and work outcomes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The team prioritized a multi-component intervention to foster connection and work engagement primarily targeting individual and interpersonal factors rather than workplace-level factors, likely reflecting the absence of a common employer. Findings highlight social connection as a modifiable target and support further intervention development and pilot-testing, with attention to accessibility and relevance across diverse survivor populations through cultural, economic, and structural adaptations.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fragi.2026.1802482","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,26]],"date-time":"2026-06-26T05:44:47Z","timestamp":1782452687000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Employed cancer survivors develop a peer-support intervention to improve social connections: a participatory design study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"7","author":[{"given":"Alicia G.","family":"Dugan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine","place":["Farmington, CT, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Keith M.","family":"Bellizzi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut","place":["Storrs, CT, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hannah L.","family":"Austin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut","place":["Storrs, CT, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sara","family":"Namazi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Health and Wellness, Johnson and Wales University","place":["Providence, RI, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jennifer M.","family":"Cavallari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine","place":["Farmington, CT, United States"]},{"name":"Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine","place":["Farmington, CT, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","volume-title":"American College of Lifestyle Medicine","year":"2026"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.1037\/ocp0000056","article-title":"Job demands\u2013resources theory: taking stock and looking forward","volume":"22","author":"Bakker","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. 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