For many years the focus of research on child well-being and development has been
primarily on the dynamics of the mother-child relationship. The mother was seen as the more
influential parent as she spends more time with the children. The father’s role in the
development process was thus undermined. Fortunately research on the father’s involvement in
a child’s life has improved over the past thirty years. Where previously fathers were mostly
perceived as the breadwinners and providers they are now also considered as being caregivers
who are more closely involved with their children and the accompanying responsibilities.
Research indicates the importance of a father’s role in child development and has found that the
intellectual, emotional and social development of a child is influenced by the father.
The most beneficial circumstances for children to grow up in is where both of the
biological parents are part of the household, satisfied with their marital relationship and loving
towards their children. Unfortunately there is a significant increase in South African families
where the father is absent and where the mother is burdened with additional responsibilities.
However, a father can be emotionally absent despite physical proximity and emotionally absent
fathers can be included when describing fatherlessness due to the destructive effect it has on
children.
Some research indicates that a father is the most significant factor in his daughter’s life
and the quality of their relationship influences her personality and general well-being in life.
Most literature focusing on the paternal parenting role is more focused on the father-son dyad,
the least studied parent-adult child dyad is that of adult daughters and fathers. A great number of
research studies on the subjects of divorce, single parents, physically absent fathers and the
resulting effects on males are available. Much less literature, especially in the South African context, can be found to focus on and explain the experiences of young adult women who grew
up with an emotionally absent father.
The aim of the study was thus to explore the subjective experiences of young adult
women who grew up with an emotionally absent father. A qualitative research method was used
with a phenomenological approach as research design. Eleven voluntary, 20-31 year old adult
women, participated in the study and were recruited by word of mouth. Data were collected
through in-depth interviews that were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. Transcribed data
were analysed by means of thematic analysis from which themes and sub-themes were derived.
Two main themes with sub-themes were identified. It was found that the participants
experienced their fathers as emotionally absent because it was difficult to share their emotions
with them, the participants' fathers did not show affection or express their love. They showed no
interest, approval or acknowledgement and the participants found it difficult to trust their fathers.
According to the participants their relationships with other men were influenced because of this.
They further struggled with trusting other people and suffered from a low self-esteem. Due to
repressed emotions they did not portray their true self and sought their fathers’ approval by doing
things he liked. / MA (Clinical Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/11934 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Peyper, Emené |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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