LIVING IN A FATHERLESS FAMILY: A DESCRIPTIVE QUALITATIVE STUDY ON CHILDREN’S MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

Abstract

Fatherlessness has become an increasingly prominent social phenomenon in many societies, raising concerns about its implications for children’s psychological, emotional, and social development. The absence of a father figure, whether due to divorce, death, migration, or non-marital family structures, may influence how children construct identity, regulate emotions, and interact with their social environment. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of fatherless children and to understand the perceived impacts of father absence on their emotional well-being, social behavior, and daily life. The research adopts a descriptive qualitative approach to capture in-depth perspectives that cannot be adequately explained through quantitative measurement alone. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with participants who experienced growing up without an actively present father figure. The interviews focused on participants’ emotional experiences, family dynamics, coping strategies, and perceptions of support from other caregivers or social institutions. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and meanings within participants’ narratives. The findings indicate that fatherlessness affects children in complex and multidimensional ways. Participants reported feelings of emotional insecurity, longing, and confusion, particularly during early developmental stages. However, the study also reveals adaptive responses, such as increased independence and emotional resilience, often facilitated by strong maternal support or alternative role models. The absence of a father does not uniformly result in negative outcomes, but its impact is shaped by contextual factors including family communication, socioeconomic conditions, and social support systems.