Relationship of social role quality to psychological well-being in women with rheumatoid arthritis

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating and moderating effects of women's social role quality on the psychological well‐being of women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). One hundred and fifty‐six women with a diagnosis of RA (M age = 59, SD = 11) completed self‐report measures of arthritis history, physical health, psychological well‐being, and role quality. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that role quality mediated the effects of physical health on depression and purpose in life, moderated the effects of health on depression, and moderated the effects of pain on purpose in life. Women in poor health with high role quality were significantly less depressed than women in poor health with poor role quality. Women with high levels of pain and high role quality had more purpose in life than women with high levels of pain and low role quality. Despite difficulties with their physical health, women who had high role quality had higher levels of psychological well‐being. Findings from this study may aid in the development of meaningful interventions to help women with RA manage their daily lives to optimize well‐being. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 26: 190–202, 2003