The Roles of Superwoman Schema and Socioeconomic Status on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Among African American Women

Fatima Varner , University of Texas at Austin
Cheryl Woods-Giscombe, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Connor Martz, Auburn University
Elizabeth Jelsma, University of Texas at Austin
Kathleen Holloway, University of Texas at Austin
S. Sam Lin, Emory University
David Chae, Auburn University

The study examined whether different profiles of effortful coping and socioeconomic indicators were related to disease activity in a sample of African American women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Latent profile analysis was conducted with subscales of Superwoman Schema, perceived financial strain, income to poverty ratio, and education as indicators. Three profiles emerged: Low Superwoman (i.e., low superwoman schema endorsement, moderate socioeconomic resources), Strained Superwoman (high superwoman schema endorsement and lower than average socioeconomic resources), and Resourced Superwoman (high superwoman schema beliefs, particularly for strength and success, and high socioeconomic resources). Women in the Strained Superwoman profile had the highest disease activity even after accounting for sociodemographic indicators and health behaviors, while women in the Resourced Superwoman profile had the least disease activity. The results suggest that the contexts in which coping strategies such as Superwoman Schema are used have important implications for health.

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 Presented in Session 52. Flash Session: Gender, Race/Ethnicity, and Health