Fathers Mental Health in Sports

from The Help Show Newsletter: JUNE ISSUE; Fathers Mental Health in Sports

J U N E 2 0 2 1 | I S S U E 1 1

THE HELP SHOW NEWSLETTER

Healthy fathers help produce healthy families. They uphold the reputation of being providers, leaders, and sustainers of the household.Generational heritage is embedded in the tradition of taking on the males’ last name. This dignified process symbolizes the significance of the male figure in various communities.

In this month’s podcast and newsletter, we will address fatherhood, men’s mental health, sports, and the longest-running African American holiday, Juneteenth. Juneteenth commemorates the official freedom from slavery in the United States. Later in the newsletter, we will take a deeper dive into the meaning of this holiday and how it is celebrated. As for men and mental health, the two topics continue to remain at contrasting odds. Men have been categorized under the counseling-resistant population. The Help Show seeks to assist in bridging the gap associated with the stigma of mental health as well as to connect people to other helpful resources and platforms

FATHERHOOD

Statistics for fatherhood in diverse communities

Fatherhood looks different from community to community. Different traditions are passed down and families must reckon with racial disparities, with fathers taking a unique approach based on their own cultural background. A 2011 study measuring levels of father-infant engagement found that 37% of Latino fathers provided verbal stimulation (reading, singing, etc.). This was much more than their peers, with only 12% of Black fathers and 3% of Caucasian fathers providing verbal stimulation to their children. Black and Latino fathers also reported higher levels of physical play than Caucasian fathers. Statistical analysis found that Black fathers reported more involvement in caregiving activities than Latino and Caucasian fathers. Despite these differences, one universal factor remained: fathers who reported more conflict with their partner were less engaged with their infants in both caregiving and play. A father coping with the stress of conflict may be pushed to spend less time with their infant, which has a significant impact on the family’s mental health as a whole. It is especially crucial for new fathers to seek help, as they are particularly vulnerable to postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression

Many people tend to think of new mothers when they hear the words postpartum depression. However, new research suggests that postpartum depression also affects new fathers, with at least one study reporting paternal postpartum depression [or PPD] at a rate of 8.4%. Becoming a father is a process as joyful as it is stressful, and while it is common for new fathers to worry, men with PPD often experience persistent feelings of powerlessness, irritability, isolation, as well as decreased warmth towards the child, and somatic symptoms such as headaches, indigestion, and insomnia. It is critical to address the mental health of fathers during this time, as untreated PPD may also negatively affect the child’s emotional health. How a father treats his child has long lasting ramifications on the child’s physical, mental, and moral development.

Fatherhood involvement in sports

Although the physical value of sports is important, what is most important are the messages and values that sports pass along to athletes, particularly adolescents. Sports impart the values of honesty, integrity, and grit onto young athletes—it is important that a father helps transmit those values to their children. At the end of the day, coaches and teammates are not the ones setting an example in the home. And research suggests that matters; a child’s value system is most significantly shaped by their family’s behavior, of which fathers have a major role to play. A 2017 analysis of adolescent athletes’ acceptance of sports values reveals that parents hold significant sway over their adolescent child’s moral development, as respondents reported a moderate to high willingness to accept a parent’s value system.

These aren’t empty words: a father’s attitude towards his child’s chosen sport activity is one of the most important predictors as to whether a child is willing to accept these important values. A father’s praise and understanding, along with paternal pressure, was most correlated to a child accepting sports values. Beyond sports values, a father also passes along cultural values and traditions, and nowhere is this more evident than paternal involvement during Juneteenth.

JUNETEENTH

What is Juneteenth

Juneteenth is often celebrated with family cookouts, parades, and historical memoirs. Th ere is not one particular way to partake in this freedom honoring day, but it is important to understand its historical context and meaning. June 19, 1865, commemorates the day Federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to advise of the Emancipation Proclamation and ensure enslaved people be freed. Juneteenth is an integral part of the south, Texas, and black history. Black families assimilate with the generational trauma their ancestors faced within that timeframe, and it has continued to trickle down to plague certain areas of the country today. With the increased vigilance of alarming police brutality, racial discrimination, and protests, recognition for this day has increased immensely. The day has continued to evolve into a reminder of progression over racial barriers as well as the shortcomings of the work left to be done. The promotion of Juneteenth can be continued with education and advocacy to drive meaningful initiatives to support the Black community.

Style of upbringing

Parenting style not only determines how a child responds to stress, but also their mental health outcomes. Researchers have found that parenting style impacts a child’s mental health, with one 2017 study noting that children whose parents were authoritative (accepting and demanding) were less likely to have depression. On the other hand, children whose parents were less attached to them (e.g., the authoritarian and neglectful styles) were more likely to be depressed. Another 2017 study found that parental care had a significant impact on a child’s mental health, with high fatherly care associated with lower rates of alcohol abuse and social phobia, and high paternal control associated in higher rates of substance abuse, specifically in adolescent males. A boy growing up in a household with warmth and sensitivity from his parents---most especially his father---may be protected from substance abuse and depression. On the other hand, if his father is highly controlling and dismissive of his emotional and physical needs, he is more likely to experience depression and turn to alcohol and drugs to cope. Another unhealthy coping strategy that men use to manage their mental health is emotional suppression, a symptom of depression that has largely gone unnoticed by the DSM-5 and ICD-10.

Men and emotional suppression

Some researchers have argued that the diagnostic criteria for depression may not accurately reflect the way men experience depression. Many men have been socialized not to cry or express vulnerability at all, and instead cope with depression by suppressing their emotions. A 2019 survey of men from the US, UK, Australia, and Canada found that a significant portion of respondents regretted sharing emotions with others and would not do so if given the chance to share again. Similarly, men faced with prostate cancer often used emotional suppression to cope with depression, with emotional suppression accounting for 15% of depression variance beyond anger. With so many men reluctant to open up about their struggles, it is up to both the individuals and the community to create a supportive environment to break down those barriers.

MEN AND MENTAL HEALTH

Men's struggles with mental health

It is important that we acknowledge that a man’s struggle with mental health does not happen in a vacuum. Every man has his own unique social and cultural context that he brings to the discussion, including his own assumptions for how a man should think and behave. Traditionally, men are taught that they must be self-reliant, authoritative, and strong all the time. The expectation that a man must be totally in control can lead a man to avoid caring for his mental and physical health or can lead to him hiding how he really feels around his loved ones (this is known as ‘masking’). This often leads to men being resistant to counseling or therapy, choosing to bottle up their emotions or lean on unhealthy coping mechanisms (such as drinking, drug use, or risk-taking behavior) instead. Masking is a habit that many men learn in childhood, with their father or father figure serving as an example of how to act in times of stress.

How do you help other men express their emotions?

The stigma that men face when talking about their emotions is no exaggeration; men are frequently discouraged from opening up by both their friends and their family. Helping a man in distress involves stepping up and offering him support and understanding. Reassure him that expressing his emotions is a sign of strength, not weakness. Encourage him to increase his level of physical and social activity, but do not push if he refuses. Help him find a doctor or therapist, even if it is just to seek help for physical symptoms like fatigue or insomnia. Never ignore a cry for help; if he makes comments about suicide, be sure to tell his therapist or a doctor immediately.

Join our upcoming virtual live podcast

Episode 104: “Being There,” Fatherhood Mental Health, in Sports

Wednesday, June 30th at 6:30pm Central

How can you help support the mental health of loved ones affected by the pandemic within the athletic community? Let the experts in our podcast guide you. Join the live podcast and add your name too many other responsible people who want to make a difference.

NiEtta Reynolds, MSWFounder of The Help Show

NiEtta will host our podcast to help us understand the significance of mental health in the male athletes of today, from recreational athletes to professional athletes and their ability to perform or cope with their emotions. This podcast aims to spread awareness regarding mental health and sports and how players can get the help they need when facing racial inequalities and other stressors both on and off the field.NiEtta is passionate about educating the community on mental health issues, so she uses her platform to engage people from all walks of life in spreading mental health awareness.

Dr. Kenneth Rogers MD Psychiatrist / Co-Host

Dr. Rogers, our podcast’s co-host, has over 20 years of experience as a board-certified psychiatrist addressing PTSD and other trauma. His clinical research demonstrates the positive outcomes of intervention through community-based mental health programs. He will help lead our discussion regarding the mental health issues resulting from the stress of change and fear in adults and children.

Von Eaglin Von Talks Therapy M.ED., LPC-S

Von Eaglin is a licensed professional counselor supervisor with a group practice in North Dallas. He is a certified couple relationship trainer and sees a wide range of clients addressing couples, family systems, men’s issues, anger management, abuse, and addiction; just to name a few. He is a doctoral candidate at the University of North Texas in the Counseling and Higher Education department and an adjunct faculty member at SMU. He's also a recurring guest expert on the nationally syndicated One Life Radio program. His Ph.D. research focuses on couple relationship dynamics. Von is a native of Beaumont, Texas, and has lived in the DFW area since 2000. He's been married for 16 years and has a 1 year one son. You can find him at www.VonTalks

Our last podcast: Women in Mental Health in Sports

In our last podcast, we discussed how mental health affects women athletes, some of the reason's women stay silent about sexual assault and harassment in sports, and whether sexism affects women's ambitions in sports.. Get help at www.TheHelpShow.org/podcast-resources/

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