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Ramatsetse TP, Ross E. Understanding the perceived psychosocial impact of father absence on adult women. SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/00812463221130194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Given South Africa’s social, historical, political, and economic landscape which has contributed towards a relatively high prevalence of father absence, particularly in Black families, and the risk of adverse implications for children’s psychosocial development, the issue of absent fathers is an important area for research. However, the differential impact of father absence on the girl child remains relatively under-researched. Hence, the study explored the perceived psychosocial impact of father absence during childhood and adolescence on adult women. A case study research design located within a qualitative research approach was employed and nine adult women aged 18 to 35 years were purposefully recruited from Grobler Park, Johannesburg West for participation in the study. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, three participants were interviewed telephonically and seven face-to-face. The research was guided by Mkhize’s sociocultural psychological tradition and Erikson’s psychosocial development theory. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the collected data. Among the key findings was that the women perceived the experience of father absence to have adversely affected their feelings of belonging and sense of identity, with some participants having suffered emotional and financial challenges. Participants acknowledged a lack of healthy relationships with other men associated with having grown up with an absent father. While most of the women adopted positive coping strategies, a small number resorted to negative coping. There was also recognition of the important roles that social fathers assume in child-rearing. These findings have important implications for promoting positive father-daughter relations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eleanor Ross
- Centre for Social Development in Africa, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
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Magqamfana S, Bazana S. Absent fathers: Psychological and socio-economic implications for black children and directions for future research. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY IN AFRICA 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/14330237.2020.1744299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandiso Bazana
- Department of Psychology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
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Peyper E, de Klerk W, Spies R. Experiences of young adult women with emotionally absent fathers. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY IN AFRICA 2015. [DOI: 10.1080/14330237.2015.1021513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emené Peyper
- School of Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences: Psychology, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Werner de Klerk
- School of Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences: Psychology, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Ruan Spies
- School of Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences: Psychology, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
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