Whilst father's absence mainly results from parental divorce and separation, including parental alienation, other factors such as family poverty and developmental difficulties have been associated with father absence, the effects of which have been explained by various theoretical approaches.
We know that children who grow up with absent-fathers can suffer lasting damage. They are more likely to end up in poverty or drop out of school, become addicted to drugs, have a child out of wedlock, or end up in prison.
Most research focuses on two major causes for the growth in fatherlessness since the early 1960's: divorce and out-of-wedlock births.
Through the stress of becoming a father, the lack of a support group, and the insecurities about being the father they dreamed of being, the father begins to think of leaving as an option.
However, the trauma begins if a dad leaves and the individual feels not only a deep sense of loss, but also an overwhelming sense of abandonment.
Described as “an exhaustion syndrome,” parental burnout has three distinct aspects: An overwhelming exhaustion related to parenting and your role as a parent. Feeling emotionally distanced from your children. A sense of ineffectiveness as a parent; feeling unsure of your ability to parent well.
The absence of a father's consistent presence can create challenges in forming and maintaining healthy relationships. Fatherless daughters may struggle with trust issues, fearing abandonment or rejection. They may find it difficult to open up, express vulnerability, and establish meaningful connections with others.
An estimated 24.7 million children (33%) live absent their biological father.
The Long-Term Effects of Abandonment and Neglect
Mood swings and anger issues later in life can often be traced to abandonment in infancy due to the lack of emotional and other support from parents. Some of the mental health conditions thought to be heavily influenced by abandonment include: Anxiety. Depression.
In these studies, fathers reported greater happiness and lower depression than mothers did, and they were also happier than men who did not have children. Fathers also reported experiencing more positive emotions and feelings of connection to other people.
Among men aged 15–49 in 2015–2019, 55.2% had not fathered a biological child, 14.8% had fathered one biological child, 17.4% had fathered two children, 8.2% had fathered three children, and 4.4% had fathered four or more children.
In this approach, a maternal orphan is a child whose mother has died, a paternal orphan is a child whose father has died, and a double orphan is a child/teen/infant who has lost both parents. This contrasts with the older use of half-orphan to describe children who had lost only one parent.
Fathers' participation in parenting and maternal parenting stress: Variation by relationship status. Journal of Family Issues, 38, 1132-1156. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 19.5 million children, more than 1 in 4, live without a father in the home. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
A previously absent parent can come back into your children's lives for a variety of reasons. In some cases, they may start to mature and realize that their children need a relationship with them.
Uninvolved parenting is a parenting style involving absence of affection, support, and guidance for children. Indifferent, uninvolved parents lack warmth and take a “hands-off” approach to setting rules, structure, or limitations in a home.
Children who are raised by emotionally unavailable fathers may struggle to form healthy relationships in adulthood. They may have trouble trusting others and may find it difficult to open up and be vulnerable. This can lead to a lack of close friendships and romantic relationships, as well as problems with intimacy.
Experiencing abuse, neglect, or a traumatic loss of a loved one is the most common cause of abandonment issues, especially when these occur in early childhood.
Mental health issues, substance abuse or the physical absence of parents or caregivers due to death or divorce can all contribute to abandonment trauma, also known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of abandonment.
Abandonment disorder, also referred to as abandonment syndrome, is classified as an anxiety disorder. It is triggered by an adverse experience or set of experiences that result in an individual feeling alone, vulnerable, unsafe, and fearful.
Lacking the day-to-day involvement, guidance, and positive example of their father in the home, and the financial advantages associated with having him in the household, these boys are more likely to act up, lash out, flounder in school, and fail at work as they move into adolescence and adulthood.
Children who live absent their biological fathers are, on average, at least two to three times more likely to be poor, to use drugs, to experience educational, health, emotional and behavioral problems, to be victims of child abuse, and to engage in criminal behavior than their peers who live with their married, ...
Predivorce family dynamics: In most intact families, sons and daughters are closer to their mothers than to their fathers. This does not mean the children and their fathers love one another less.