Research suggests that paternal depression affects between 8% and 13% of fathers at some point in their lives. The highest rates of paternal depression are generally seen during the postpartum period, specifically, when the baby is 3 to 6 months born. While a large body of research has been devoted to postpartum depression in mothers, far less research has studied the mental health of fathers during this critical period, especially for fathers from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds. What does depression look like in men and fathers? Does it present differently than in mothers? What psychological and social factors are related to an increased risk of paternal depression? What resilience resources may protect fathers against paternal depression? How does paternal depression affect other members of the family unit? What are ways we can support men suffering from or at risk of paternal depression? The current presentation aims to address these questions in a sample of fathers from diverse backgrounds using findings from a series of large research studies.
Speaker
Dr. Olajide ‘Jide’ (Jee-Day) Bamishigbin is a senior consultant, researcher, college instructor, and public speaker based in Southern California. Originally from Miami, FL, he received his BA in Psychology from the University of Miami, with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies, and his PhD in Health psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His research has focused primarily on the predictors and consequences of paternal depression for fathers, their partners, their children, and the entire family unit and has been published in a number of high-impact peer-reviewed journals. His work has also been covered on CNN and The Today Show. Dr. Bamishigbin is a member of the Edward Bouchet Graduate Honor Society, a member of the American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship Program, and a Research Fellow for the National Institute of Health’s Center for Health Equity Research program. Most importantly, however, he is married to his wonderful wife, Dr. Jahneille Bamishigbin, and has two incredibly young boys, Olajide III, and Olakunle.