Hispanic young males’ mental health from adolescence through the transition to fatherhood

Citation

Garfield, Craig F.; Abbott, Collin; Rutsohn, Joshua; & Penedo, Frank (2018). Hispanic young males’ mental health from adolescence through the transition to fatherhood. American Journal of Men's Health.

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to examine the associations between the transition to fatherhood and depressive symptoms scores among Hispanic men. Using the sample of Hispanic men included in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, depressive symptom scores were examined from 1994 to 2008. A "fatherhood-year" data set was created that included the men's Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) scores as well as residency status with the child. By regressing age-adjusted standardized depressive symptom scores, associations between mental health scores of Hispanic men and their transition to fatherhood were identified. Among the 1,715 Hispanic men, resident (n = 502) and nonresident (n = 99) Hispanic fathers reported an increase in depressive symptom scores (CES-D) during the first 5 years after entrance into fatherhood (? = 0.150, 95% CI [0.062, 0.239] and ? = 0.153, 95% CI [0.034, 0.271], respectively) compared to non-fathers (n = 1,114), representing an increase of 10% for resident fathers and a 15% for nonresident fathers. Hispanic non-fathers reported a decrease in depressive symptom scores (CES-D) during parallel ages. Hispanic fathers, regardless of residency status, reported increased depressive symptoms in the first 5 years after the transition into fatherhood, a period critical in child development.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988318765890

Keyword(s)

depression

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

American Journal of Men's Health

Author(s)

Garfield, Craig F.
Abbott, Collin
Rutsohn, Joshua
Penedo, Frank

Year Published

2018

Edition

March 26, 2018

ISSN/ISBN

1557-9883

DOI

10.1177/1557988318765890

Reference ID

8339