Woods-Giscombe, C. (n.d.). Superwoman Schema: African American Women's Views On Stress, Strength, And Health. Qualitative Health Research, 668-683.

Researchers have suggested that health disparities in African American women, including adverse birth outcomes, lupus, obesity, and untreated depression, can be explained by stress and coping. The Strong Black Woman/Superwoman role has been highlighted as a phenomenon influencing African American women’s experiences and reports of stress. The purpose of this study was to develop a preliminary conceptual framework for Superwoman Schema (SWS) by exploring women’s descriptions of the Superwoman role; perceptions of contextual factors, benefits, and liabilities; and beliefs regarding how it influences health.

Questions to Consider:

1)One of the results of the survey as referenced in the article was, “women indicated a perceived obligation to suppress emotions.  They voiced concern no one would understand what they were going through”.   Why do you think so many women felt obligated to suppress their emotions?  What kind of health issues can arise from this suppression?

2)The authors discussed a limitation of the study was the sample was selected from the southeastern part of the United States.  How do you think the results of the study might have differed if there were African American women from other regions of the United States?

Rose, S., & Hatzenbuehler, S. (n.d.). Embodying Social Class: The Link Between Poverty, Income Inequality And Health. International Social Work, 459-471.

Poverty, income inequality and the inequitable distribution of health invariably co-occur. The strength of the relationship between wealth and health holds even in countries with universal health care. A systematic literature review describes pathways from inequality of wealth to embodied diseases. The significance for social policy and social work practice is developed.

Questions to Consider:

1)According to the author, there is a correlation between socioeconomic level and health.  What factors account for this, according to the conclusions made in this article?

2)What more can be done, in your opinion, to help those with a lower socioeconomic background get better access to physical and mental health care?  How can studies such as this lead to a better understand of the needs of those who are poor?

Baker, Dian, Kathleen Hebbeler, Linda Davis-Alldritt, Lori Anderson, and Heather Knauer. "School Health Services for Children With Special Health Care Needs in California." School Health Services for Children With Special Health Care Needs in California. The Journal of School Nursing, 8 Apr. 2015.

Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) are at risk for school failure when their health needs are not met. Current studies have identified a strong connection between school success and health. This study attempted to determine (a) how schools meet the direct service health needs of children and (b) who provides those services. 

Questions to Consider:

1)According to one result of the study, “ among those nurses who were aware that a student had a special health care need, 30% reported that they were not kept up-to-date by others, such as the parents or the child’s physician, about a child’s condition”.  If you were in charge of implementing policies in the educational system to resolve this issue what would your plan include? 

2)This study found that 1.2 million students in California were in school districts in 2011–2012 that employed no school nurses.  What are the ramifications of this besides the issues addressed in this study?