Relationships Among Endorsement of the Superwoman Schema and Health Outcomes

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations among endorsement of elements of the superwoman schema (the obligation to manifest strength and the obligation to help others) and health outcomes and to test if stress mediates the association between the obligation to manifest strength and depression in adult Black women.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional design.

SETTING: Community space in the Chicago metropolitan area.

PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-one adult Black women.

METHODS: Participants completed questionnaires to assess endorsement of superwoman schema roles, physical activity, healthy eating, weight satisfaction, depression, and stress. Height and weight were collected by research assistants. We used descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, multiple regression models, and linear mediation analysis to analyze data.

RESULTS: Higher levels of obligation to suppress emotions were associated with lower physical activity, r(88) = -0.25, p < .05. Obligation to manifest strength was associated with higher levels of stress, r(79) = 0.53, p < .01, and symptoms of depression, r(71) = 0.36, p < .01. Stress mediated the relationship between the obligation to manifest strength and depression with a significant indirect effect, β = 0.37, SE = 0.10, 95% confidence interval [0.20, 0.60].

CONCLUSION: Our findings offer insight into the psychological and social processes that affect Black women and may aid in the development of culturally responsive prevention and intervention programs at individual and community levels to reduce chronic diseases.