Daphne C. Watkins
Associate Professor of Social Work, School of Social Work, Faculty Associate, Research Center for Group Dynamics, Institute for Social Research
Daphne C. Watkins studies gender disparities and mental health over the adult life course using mixed methods research approaches.
To date, her research has focused on understanding the social determinants of health that explain within group differences among black men; developing evidence-based strategies to improve the physical and mental health of black men; and increasing knowledge about the intersection of culture, ethnicity, age, and gender.
Prior to joining the School of Social Work, Professor Watkins completed a NIMH-funded postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute for Social Research and a NIH career development award in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, both at the University of Michigan.
To date, her research has focused on understanding the social determinants of health that explain within group differences among black men; developing evidence-based strategies to improve the physical and mental health of black men; and increasing knowledge about the intersection of culture, ethnicity, age, and gender.
Prior to joining the School of Social Work, Professor Watkins completed a NIMH-funded postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute for Social Research and a NIH career development award in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, both at the University of Michigan.
Research Interests/Focus
Gender disparities, mood disorders, health education, behavioral interventions,masculinity, men's mental health, mixed-methods research
Continuing Education
Contact Information
| Phone | Room | Address | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (734) 763-3395 | daphnew@umich.edu | 3603C SSWB | University of Michigan School of Social Work 1080 S. University Ann Arbor, MI 48109 |
Education
| Year | Degree | School | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | PhD | Health Education | Texas A&M University, College Station, TX |
| 2002 | BA | Anthropology & French | University of North Carolina, Wilmington |
Websites
| http://gendhrlab.com |
| https://www.ybmenproject.com/ |
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Michigan State University's Making Relationships Work: A Summit on Black Male Academic Success and Inclusion |
| 2018 | Watkins, D. C. (2018, January). I Dream a World... Presentation for the 2nd Annual "Brief and Brilliant" Session. Society for Social Work Research 22nd Annual Conference. Washington, DC. |
| 2018 | Goodwill, J. R. & Watkins, D. C. (2018, January). Does Adherence to Masculine Norms Predict Depressive Symptoms in Black College Men? Society for Social Work Research 22nd Annual Conference. Washington, DC. |
| 2018 | Johnson, N. C., & Watkins, D. C. (2018, January). A Masculinity and Mental Health Scale for Young Black Men: Findings from an Exploratory Factor Analysis. Society for Social Work Research 22nd Annual Conference. Washington, DC. |
| 2018 | Goodwill, J. R., Allen, J. O., & Watkins, D. C. (2018, January). What Does Race Mean to Young Black Men? Findings from the YBMen Project. Presented as part of the symposium titled: To be Young and Black: Using Intervention to Examine How Black Parents and Youth Make Meaning of Racialized Experiences. Society for Social Work Research 22nd Annual Conference. Washington, DC. |
| 2017 | Watkins, D. C. (2017, July). Turning your mixed methods thesis or dissertation into publications. Michigan Mixed Methods Research and Scholarship Program (M3RSP). University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine. |
| 2017 | Watkins, D. C. (2017, October). The gender epidemic: What to do when the diagnosis is clear but the treatment is not. Radcliffe Institute Science Symposium. Harvard University. |
| 2017 | Watkins, D. C. (2017, November). The YBMen Project to Improve Mental Health, Masculinities, and Social Support for Young Black Men. University of Toronto, School of Social Work. |
| 2017 | Watkins, D. C. (2017, November). The Social Evolution of Young Black Men: Understanding Mental Health, Manhood, and Social Support through the YBMen Project. Black Center for AIDS Prevention (Black CAPTO). |
| 2017 | Watkins, D. C. (2017, December). From Angry Black Men to #BlackBoyJoy: The Evolution of Mental Health and Manhood Among Young Black Men. Columbia Populations Research Center. Columbia University. |
| 2017 | Goodwill, J. R., Johnson, N. J., Allen, J. O., & Watkins, D. C. (2017, January). How Do Young Black Men Cope with Mental Health Challenges? Findings from the YBMen Project. Society for Social Work Research 21st Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA. |
| 2017 | Allen, J. O., Goodwill, J. R., Anyiwo, N., & Watkins, D. C. (2017, April). How race affects mental health of black men: Voice from the Young Black Men, Masculinities, and Mental Health (YBMen) Project. American Men's Studies Association 25th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference. Ann Arbor, MI. |
| 2017 | Watkins, D. C. (2017, January). How Does Media Influence Young Black Men's Conceptualization of Masculinity? Findings from the YBMen Project. Society for Social Work Research 21st Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA. |
| 2017 | Watkins, D. C. (2017, March). The Nuts and Bolts of Developing a Strong Book Proposal for the Mixed Methods Series. Mixed Methods International Association Regional Conference in the Caribbean. Montego Bay, Jamaica. |
| 2017 | Goodwill, J. R., Watkins, D. C., & Mattis, J. (2017, April). Masculinity and Depression in Black College Men. American Men's Studies Association 25th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference. Ann Arbor, MI. |
| 2016 | Bidwell, L., Watkins, D. C., Helton, J., & Gioia, D. (2016, November). Mixed Methods in Social Work: Enhancing Education, Research, and Practice. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Program Meeting. Atlanta, GA. |
| 2016 | Watkins, D. C. (2016, April). Family support for psychological distress among older, church-going African American men: A modified mixed methods design. Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) Annual Meeting, Bethesda, MD. |
| 2016 | Watkins, D. C., Allen, J. O., & Goodwill, J. R. (2016, January). A Facebook intervention to improve mental health and social support for young black men: The Young Black Men, Masculinities, and Mental Health (YBMen) Project. Society for Social Work Research 20th Annual Conference, Washington, DC. |
| 2015 | Allen, J. O., Griffith, D. M., & Watkins, D. C.(2015, November). It really relies on the wife to get men to eat healthy: African American men's and women's perceptions of how wives influence men's eating behavior and dietary health. American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting, Chicago. IL. |
| 2015 | Allen, J. O., Watkins, D. C., & Goodwill, J. R. (2015, November). Black college men's perceptions of mental health and depression: Preliminary findings from the Young Black Men, Masculinities, and Mental Health (YBMen) Study. American Public Health Association (APHA), Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL. |
| 2015 | Watkins, D. C. (2015). Invited speaker at symposium, "Young, Gifted and @Risk", School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA. |
| 2015 | Watkins, D. C.. (2015, January). Symposium Discussant. The doors of the church are open: Contextualizing black churches as a place and space for mental health and longevity among African Americans. Society for Social Work Research 19th Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA. |
| 2015 | Akinyemi, E, Watkins, D. C., Kavanagh, J., Johnson-Lawrence, V., Lynn, S., & Kales, H. C. (2015, January). Interpreting language used by older African Americans to describe depression in light of DSM criteria. At the symposium entitled: The doors of the church are open: Contextualizing black churches as a place and space for mental health and longevity among African Americans. Society for Social Work Research 19th Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA. |
| 2015 | Mitchell, J. A., Wharton T., Watkins, D. C.. , & Kales, H. C. (2015, January). ’There's no depression in the walk’: A qualitative analysis of how older black women define and discuss depression in the context of their spirituality. At the symposium entitled: The doors of the church are open: Contextualizing black churches as a place and space for mental health and longevity among African Americans. Society for Social Work Research 19th Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA, |
| 2015 | Watkins, D. C., Wharton T., Mitchell, J. A., Matusko, N. & Kales, H. C. (2015, January). A mixed methods study of family support and mental health outcomes among older, church-going African American men. At the symposium entitled: The doors of the church are open: Contextualizing black churches as a place and space for mental health and longevity among African Americans. Society for Social Work Research 19th Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA. |
| 2015 | Wharton T., Watkins, D. C.. Mitchell, J. A., & Kales, H. C. (2015, January). “’Oh I'm not going to discuss this with him’: Older African-American church community members' expectations of formal mental health care providers.” At the symposium entitled: The doors of the church are open: Contextualizing black churches as a place and space for mental health and longevity among African Americans. Society for Social Work Research 19th Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA, |
| 2015 | Mitchell, J. A., & Watkins, D. C.. (2015, January). Self-reported depression and emotional distress for older African American men across intersecting contexts. Society for Social Work Research 19th Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA. |
| 2015 | Mitchell, J. A., Shires, D. A., & Watkins, D. C.. (2015, January). Oncologists overlook older African American men's psychosocial needs after a new cancer diagnosis. Society for Social Work Research 19th Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA. |
| 2014 | Watkins, D. C. (2014, October). Is making it to college enough? Masculinities, stress, and success among black college men. Invited presentations, Harold A. Korn "Final Friday" Series on College Student Mental Health. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Office, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. |
| 2014 | Allen, J. O., & Watkins, D. C. (2014, November). Relationships between chronic health conditions, functional limitations, and psychological distress among Black and White men. Poster presented at 142nd American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition. New Orleans, LA. |
| 2014 | Allen, J. O. & Watkins, D. C. (2014, November). Relationships between chronic health conditions, functional limitations, and psychological distress among Black and White men. 142nd American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition. New Orleans, LA. |
| 2014 | Watkins, D. C. (2014, April). The crisis of men’s studies. Live radio interview on NPR’s Tell Me More show with Michel Martin. |
| 2014 | Watkins, D. C. (2014, April). Depression in black men: Past, present, and future. Keynote presentation given at The Ohio State University’s Diversity Health Week, Columbus, OH. |
| 2014 | Watkins, D. C. (2014, June). A mixed methods study of family support and distress among older, church-going African American men. Mixed Methods International Research Association Inaugural Conference, Boston, MA. |
| 2014 | Wharton, T., Mitchell, J. A., Watkins, D. C., & Kales, H. C. (2014, March). Oh I'm not going to discuss this with him: Older African-American women's expectations of formal mental health care providers. Poster presented at American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL. |
| 2014 | Jefferson, S. O., Watkins, D. C., & Mitchell, J. A. (2014, March). Coddling boys and cultivating girls: Black women discuss their perceptions of gender differences in parenting practices. Poster presented at American Men's Studies Associations 22nd Annual Conference, Tacoma, WA. |
| 2014 | Allen, J. O., & Watkins, D. C. (2014, March). An intersectional & contextual analysis of disparities in U.S. men's physical activity. Poster presented at American Men's Studies Association 22nd Annual Conference, Tacoma, WA. |
| 2014 | Mitchell, J. A., Mountain, S., & Watkins, D. C. (2014, March). Black men, masculinity, and cancer in context: A review of the literature. Poster presented at American Men's Studies Association 22nd Annual Conference, Tacoma, WA. |
| 2014 | Goodwin, J., & Watkins, D. C. (2014, March). Black men commit suicide too: An analysis of the news and social media's reports on black male suicide. Poster presented at American Men's Studies Association 22nd Annual Conference, Tacoma, WA. |
| 2014 | Watkins, DC. (2014, June). Lessons learned from the implementation and evaluation of an online mixed methods research continuing education program for social workers. Mixed Methods International Research Association Inaugural Conference, Boston, MA. |
| 2013 | Watkins, D., Mitchell, J., Hawkins, J., Page, A. (2013, April). Using mixed methods and multiple studies to examine the physical and mental health outcomes of African American men: A panel of findings and future directions. Panel presentation at the American Men's Studies association Annual conference, Ann Arbor, MI. |
| 2013 | Watkins, D. C. (2013, March). The mental health of black men. Panelist at the Brown Chapel AME Church Health Fair, Joliet, IL. |
| 2013 | Watkins, D.C. (2013, January). Depression in black men: From reflections of their past to re-inventing their future." University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Ann Arbor, MI. |
| 2013 | Page, A. J., Watkins, D. C., & Mitchell, J. A. (2013, April). Sudden death of male athletes: Should further health screenings beyond yearly physicals become mandatory? Poster presented at American Men's Studies Association 21st Annual Conference, Ann Arbor, MI. |
| 2013 | Mitchell, J. A., & Watkins, D. C. (2013, January). Social determinants associated with colorectal cancer screening in an urban community sample of African American men. Society for Social Work Research 17th Annual Conference, Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina, San Diego, CA. |
| 2013 | Watkins, D. C., Kawaii-Bogue, B., & Mitchell, J. A. (2013, April). Aging African American men and the social determinants of their physical and mental health outcomes. Part of the panel titled "Physical & mental health outcomes of black men." American Men's Studies Association 21st Annual Conference, Ann Arbor, MI. |
| 2013 | Johnson-Lawrence, V., Griffith, D. M., & Watkins, D. C. (2013, April). Race, financial stress and mental and physical health conditions among men. American' Men's Studies Association 21st Annual Conference, Ann Arbor, MI. |
| 2008 | Watkins, D. C., & Neighbors, H. W. (2008, March). Insight before we act: Exploring what "mental health" means to young black men. On the panel titled, A Developmental Look at the Intersection of Race and Gender in Psychopathology of the 2008 Society for Research on Adolescence, Biennial Meeting in Chicago, IL. |
| 2007 | Watkins, D. C. (2007, August). Media and cultural stereotypes. Presented at the NIH/UNM Mentorship and Education Program Training Institute in Mental Health Services Research, Albuquerque, NM. |
| 2007 | Watkins, D. C. (2007, January). Black college men and mental health: A time for action. Presented at the Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference (SBSLC). College Station, TX. |
| 2006 | Watkins, D. C. (2006, November). Using your past job experience to develop your future career. Guest Speaker for Psychology Course: Citizenship for Engagement, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. |
| 2006 | Watkins, D. C. (2006, April). Mental health: It's not really 'health' is it? Presented at the Sterling C. Evans Library Presentation, Texas A&M Univeristy, College Station, TX. |
| 2006 | Watkins, D. C. (2006, March). Public speaking and the media. Presented at the NIMH/UNM Mentorship and Education Program Training Institute in Mental Health Services Research, Albuquerque, NM. |
| 2006 | Watkins, D. C. (2006, March). Life events and their impact on the mental health of young black men: A qualitative study. Presented at the NIMH/UNM Mentorship and Education Program Training Institute in Mental Health Services Research. Albuquerque, NM. |
| 2006 | Watkins, D. C. (2006, March). The mental health of young black men: The impact of stressful life events. Presented at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin Minority Scholars Program. |
| 2006 | Watkins, D. C. (2006, March). Choosing a research focus in graduate school. Presented at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin Minority Scholars Program. |
| 2006 | Watkins, D. C. (2006, February). Building and maintaining strong mentors. Presented at the Center for the Study of Health Disparities Publication Workshop, College Station, TX. |
| 2006 | Watkins, D. C., Sharf, B., Rowell, K., Rivers, D., Roberts-Perez, S., Sarabia, M., et al. (2006, May). Hearing their voices: Issues that affect patient health literacy. Presented at the 2006 Society for Public Health Education Mid-year Scientific Conference, Las Vegas, NV. |
| 2006 | Rivers, D., Rivers, B., Green, B. L., Rowell, K., Watkins, D. C., Louis, R., et al. (2006, April). Equipping current and future health professionals through research, education, and training to address health disparities: The CSHD model. Presented at the American Academy of Health Education/American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Convention in Salt Lake City, UT. |
| 2006 | Watkins, D. C., Rivers, D., Rowell, K., Green, B. L., & Rivers, B. M. (2006, March). A closer look at effect sizes and their relevance to health education. Presented at the American Academy of Health Behavior, Carmel, CA. |
| 2005 | Watkins, D. C. (2005, October). What can be done about African American college men and depression? Visionary Scholars Presentation, Center for the Study of Health Disparites, College Station, TX. |
| 2005 | Watkins, D. C., & Rowell, K. (2005, May). Mental health and minority populations, "Brazos Valley Health" KEOS 89.1, College Station, TX. |
| 2005 | Watkins, D. C. (2005, March). Depression among black men in a rural community in southern Texas. Presented at the NIMH/UNM Mental Health Mentorship and Education Program Training Institute, Albuqueque, NM. |
| 2005 | Rivers, B. M., & Watkins, D. C. (2005, February). The center for the study of health disparities: Inequalites in health opportunities for change. "Brazos Valley Health" KEOS 89.1, College Station, TX, Radio Interview. |
| 2005 | Watkins, D. C. (2005, February). Keeping it real: The truth about graduate school (panelist). Presented at the Black Graduate Student Association, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. |
| 2005 | Buhi, L., Green, B. L., Rivers, B., McWhinney, S., Dorman, S., & Watkins, D. C. (2005, December). Collaboration between a research institution, federally qualified health center, and historically black university: A necessary, yet challenging endeavor. Presented at the American Public Health Association, Philadelphia, PA. |
| 2005 | Walker, A., & Watkins, D. C. (2005, October). The role of 'believability' in identifying health information sources on college campuses. Presented at the Southwest College Health Association (SWCHA) Annual Meeting-Regional Conference, Denton, TX. |
| 2005 | Watkins, D. C., Rowell, K., Rivers, D., Green, B. L., & Rivers, B. (2005, October). The limited research on African-American college men and depression: A path to solutions. Presented at the National Conference on Men's Health, Atlanta, GA. |
| 2005 | Watkins, D. C., Green, B. L., Rivers, B., Rivers, D., & Rowell, K. (2005, March). Depressive symptoms in black men: Using theory to plan a help seeking program for black, male university students. Presented at Student Research Week, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. |
| 2005 | Rivers, D., Rivers, B., Watkins, D. C., Green, B. L., Rowell, K., Louis, R., et al. (2005, December). Self-management education among African-Americans with type II diabetes: A literature review. Presented at the Society for Public Health Education's (SOPHE) 56th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA. |
| 2005 | Rivers, D., Rivers, B., Green, B. L., Rowell, K., Watkins, D. C., & Arekere, D. (2005, December). Race-base research: Mayhem or miracle? Presented at the American Public Health Association, Philadelphia, PA. |
| 2005 | Green, B. L., Dorman, S., Rivers, B., Watkins, D. C., Rivers, D., & Rowell, K. (2005, December). Development of a research center within an academic setting to coordinate and build infrastructure to conduct health disparities research. Presented at the American Public Health Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA. |
| 2005 | Delissaint, D., Rivers, D., Green, B. L., Honore, H., Watkins, D. C., Rivers, B., et al. (2005, December). Global health disparities: HIV/AIDS & its impact on human rights. Presented at the American Public Health Association, Philadelphia, PA. |
| 2005 | Rivers, B., Green, B. L., Rowell, K., Watkins, D. C., Rivers, D., & Robledo, M. (2005, December). A transdisciplinary approach to career development and training of health disparities researchers. Presented at the American Public Health Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA. |
| 2005 | Watkins, D. C., Green, B. L., & Stanley, C. (2005, October). The health of African American male students at historically black colleges and universities: Is there limited research? Presented at the 4th International Conference on Urban Health, Toronto, Canada. |
| 2005 | Rowell, K., Rivers, D., Watkins, D. C., Rivers, B., & Green, B. L. (2005, August). Perceived racism as a stressor in suicide attempts among African Americans. Presented at the Association of Black Psychologists, Miami Beach, FL. |
| 2005 | Watkins, D. C., Rivers, D., Green, B. L., Rivers, B., & Rowell, K. (2005, April). Factors that lead to depression among black men: A systematic review of the literature from 1984 to 2004. Presented at the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) Mid-year Scientific Conference, Boston, MA. |
| 2005 | Rivers, D., Rivers, B., Watkins, D. C., Rowell, K., & Green, B. L. (2005, March). Self-management education among African-American persons with Type 2 diabetes: A literature review, Student Research Week. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. |
| 2005 | Watkins, D. C., Green, B. L., & Rivers, B. (2005, March). Depressive symptoms in Black men: Using theory to plan a help seeking program for black, male university students. Presented at the 19th National Conference on Chronic Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), Atlanta, GA. |
| 2005 | Rivers, B., Green, B. L., Kohler, C., Watkins, D. C., Rivers, D., & Rowell, K. (2005, February). An Assessment of the relationship of socio-demographic factors, prostate cancer knowledge and perceived readiness to participate in the informed decision making process for prostate cancer. Presented at the American Academy of Health Behavior, Charleston, SC. |
| 2004 | Watkins, D. C. (2004, October). Exploring "Human genetic variation and health: New assessment approaches based on ethnogenetic layering" by Fatimah L. C. Jackson. Visionary Scholars Presentation, Center for the Study of Health Disparities, College Station, TX. |
| 2003 | Watkins, D. C., Green, B. L., & Rivers, B. (2003, November). Center for the Study of Health Disparities: Inequalities in health, opportunities for change. Presented at the Health Services & Outcomes Research Conference, Houston, TX. |