Factors Influence to Fathers' Depression

Purpose:

Male depression was not fascinating topic for social work researchers so far. One of the reasons for not actively investigated is that it is known that male depression is less prevalent than women’s. Recently, however, some empirical studies found that fathers’ psychological stress largely influence to their children and more studies started to gain interest.

Based on the ecological perspectives, various factors may influence to depression from micro level to macro level factors. One of the models, called as “Interpersonal Model of Depressions”, emphasizes the importance of attachment in human development. Furthermore, this model insists for cause of depression as disruption of important interpersonal relationships.

In this study, we aim to investigate what factors influence to fathers’ depression. Factors include current income, job status, and relationship with spouse, parents, and children. From the perspective of interpersonal model of depression, we hypothesize that detrimental relationships with family is more impact factor than others. When trying to categorize family relations into three (spouse, parents, children), we hypothesize relationship with children is more impact on fathers’ depression.

Methods:

           As a secondary data analysis, we are going to use a fathers’ nine year follow-up survey data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. This data includes questions to ask participants’ recent mental health, current range of income, employment status, and their relationships with spouse, parents, and children.

           According to the data description, total 4798 fathers were participated in this study. Even though it is a longitudinal study for families (father, mother and children), we will only focus on the nine year follow-up survey for fathers. Using SPSS 21, data will be analyzed by correlation analysis and linear regression.

Results:

           It is found that all factors are highly impact on fathers’ depression, but relationships with family were more influential than income, employment status. However, there are no significant difference among relationships with spouse, parents, and children.

Some fathers (n=757) reported that they are currently not living with their children. Fathers who voluntary decide to separate with their children are less influenced to their depressive feelings from separation with children. Furthermore, it is found that as length of separation getting longer, less fathers feel depressive feelings by the separation.

For the income and employment status, as getting more money from stable employment, less fathers reported as depressive. But more job seeking duration indicates more depressive feelings for fathers.

Implications for practice:

           Results from the study contains important social work implications for practice. It is found that micro level factor (family) is very important to male depression. When dealing with male client with depressive symptoms, more assessment about their family relationship is required. In addition, it is predictable that a treatment which emphasizing family relationship enhancement will be effective to approach these population.