Essay about Effects of Absent Fathers on Adolescents

The role of the father, a male figure in a child’s life is a very crucial role that has been diminishing over the years. An absent father can be defined in two ways; the father is physically not present, or the father is physically present, but emotionally present. To an adolescent, a father is an idolized figure, someone they look up to (Feud, 1921), thus when such a figure is an absent one, it can and will negatively affect a child’s development. Many of the problems we face in society today, such as crime and delinquency, poor academic achievement, divorce, drug use, early pregnancy and sexual activity can be attributed to fathers being absent during adolescent development (Popenoe, 1996; Whitehead, 1993). The percentage of†¦show more content†¦It is during this time a father needs to be present to father, shape and mold his children (Jones, Kramer, Kim A., Teresa L., Armitage, Tracey, Williams, Keith, as cited in Wallerstein, 1980, 1987). On their 10 year follow up, Wallerstein and Kelley found that regardless of the time spent with a father or not, the father continued to be a significant presence psychologically to adolescents, particularly to boys (Jones et al., as cited in Wallerstein, Kelley, 1974). On Kelley and Wallerstein’s 25 year follow up of their now adult participants in their longitudinal study, they have found that the effects of fatherlessness and divorce during their adolescents were long lasting. The participants in the study by Wallerstein et al. (2000) noted that â€Å"The impact of divorce hits them most cruelly as they go in search of love, sexual intimacy, and commitment† (p. 299). These same participants also stated in an interview that they had anxiety issues about relationships and intimacy problems into adulthood (Jones et al., as cited in Wallerstein et al., 2000). Wallerstein et al. (2000) participants of the research also stated that they had resentment towards their parents, parti cularly the fathers who were seen â€Å"selfish and faithless† (p. 300).Show MoreRelatedThe Role Of Parents Absent Homes Are More Frequently Perpetrators Of Crimes1382 Words   |  6 Pagesgrow up without a father may cross people’s mind, not many people tend to think about how not having a father impacts the children as adolescents and even sometimes into adulthood. The disruption of a family structure is known to be one of the main contributing factors in juvenile delinquency. This research paper will show evidence that adolescents in father absent homes are more frequently perpetrators of crimes. The independent variable is adolescents raised in father absent homes and the dependentRead MoreThe Loss Of A Father1345 Words   |  6 PagesResearchers MacCallum and Golombok (2004) argued that results from previous studies focusing on the loss of a father could not be generalized to children who grew up in households without a father from birth. This is where lesbian mothers and single mothers come into their research, because these families did not necessarily have an absentee father due to family disruption or realignment. For example, lesbians have used assisted conception and/or adoption. In earlier times, lesbian mothers weren’tRead MoreInfluence Of A Mother On A Child s Well Being And Development951 Words   |  4 Pagesshown that an engaged and loving father can contribute greatly to a child’s cognitive, social, and psychological develo pment (Bronte-Tinkew, Carrano, Horowitz, Kinukawa, 2008; Duursma, Pan, Raikes, 2008; Pancsofar Vernon-Feagans, 2010; Wilson Prior, 2010). However, not just the mere presence of a father is enough to make a difference in a child’s development. Research has shown that a child’s development is affected by both the quantity and quality of father involvement (Wilson Prior, 2010)Read MoreThe Absentee Father846 Words   |  4 Pagesupholding the moral and religious values that the family would abide by. This absent figure is most commonly known as the father. Statistics show that â€Å"an estimated 24.7 million children (33%) live absent their biological father† (The Consequences of Fatherlessness). This means that approximately one in three children are fatherless. This startling fact reigns prevalent all throughout the American nation. For the father to be missing from a child’s life on a daily basis, there are various ways inRead MoreA Child s Psychological And Social Development1610 Words   |  7 Pagesperiods of time, spending very little time with their children. Moving around so much ma y affect a child’s psychological and social development. These events can affect Fern the rest of her adolescent years and her upcoming young adult years. The first developmental period that will be discussed is, adolescents. One of the mile stones that children of Fern’s age are going through is puberty. During this stage, girls experience rapid growth spurts, in addition to weight gain and sexual maturation (KailRead MoreThe Role Of Father Involvement For Children Development Essay1535 Words   |  7 Pagesin the father involvement literature trough the researches. To know the father involvement for children development. Further we present what different other nation’s father role and what is going changed. This paper is based on The Effects of Father Involvement: An Updated Research Summary of the Evidence(FIRA, Sarah Allen, Kerry Daly, University of Guelph). It is not to compare with father and mother, Knowing the father’s importance. This paper is for Students and someone who be a father. Know howRead MoreIs The Most Socially Consequential Family Trend Of Our Generation?990 Words   |  4 Pageschildren to g row up without their fathers. Father absence is a crucial social issue and can be linked to dozens of our most pressing social dilemmas. David Blankenhorn of the American Experiment said â€Å"this trend of fatherlessness is the most socially consequential family trend of our generation† (Blankenhorn). Father absence in the American home has a serious and negative effect on the well-being of our society. Literature Review/Discussion Among the issues affected by father absence are poverty rates,Read MoreThe Role Of Father Absence On Children s Lives953 Words   |  4 Pagesopportunity to go to sleep in the assurance of both mother and father in the home. In the U.S. an estimated 25 million children live in families without their father (U.S. Census, America’s, 2015). Growing up in fatherless families is an epidemic that has considerable negative financial, psychosocial, educational and physical effects on the children’s lives (Blackenhorn, 1995; National Center for Fathering, The consequences, n.d.). Father absence is a major contributor to delinquency, premature sexualityRead MoreI Stand Here Ironing By Tillie Olson Essay1517 Words   |  7 Pagesquite clearly feeling as if she hasn’t done enough for her daughter Emily. The mother in this story is feeling guilt for many, many different reasons whether it be the overall way she raised her child, for having her know what it’s like t o have an absent father, and for overall not being the best mother that she feels she can be (Olsen 419 – 425). In an article written about hard working mothers, all of the mother’s experience feelings of guilt and as if they are not doing enough for their child (KuperbergRead MoreSad and Sadistic803 Words   |  4 PagesThe word â€Å"father† appears commonly on first-grade spelling quizzes due to its simplicity of spelling; however, it holds startlingly many different meanings under its simple spelling. Most young-aged daughters characterize a father as the protector of their family who they can always rely on, a role model whom she gets inspiration from, and a counselor who provides wise guidance for her life. The Bible commands fathers to â€Å"Train up a child in the way he should go† and to â€Å"bring them up in the training