Exploring perceptions of young adults on the effect of father absence on their wellbeing in Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga Province.

Abstract

South Africa exhibits an alarmingly high prevalence of absent fathers, with approximately half of the children in the country lacking regular paternal contact. This phenomenon is particularly concerning, given the nation’s ranking as the second-highest in global father absence rates. Extensive research underscores the deleterious consequences of father absence on the mental health and well-being of adolescents and young adults. This phenomenological study explored the lived experience and perceptions of young adults regarding father absence and its impact on their well-being in the Ehlanzeni District of Mpumalanga province. A total of 25 participants, 10 males and 15 females, aged between 18 and 25 years, were recruited using snowball sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and thematic content analysis was employed to analyse data. The attachment theory by John Bowlby provided the theoretical framework for interpreting the findings. The study uncovered several emerging themes related to the participants’ subjective experiences of being raised in a father-absent home, the role of a father, the emotional and psychological impact of father absence, behavioural consequences, social effects on individual well-being, and the coping strategies employed by the participants. The findings revealed that father absence disrupts the bond between father and child, with participants reporting feelings of abandonment and neglect. Extended families were seen as playing a crucial role in cushioning the young adults from hardship and providing social and economic support until they became independent.