Characteristics of Children Experiencing Fatherlessness

Abstract

Indonesia ranks third among countries with the highest number of fatherless children. The lack of paternal involvement in a child's life can lead to various long-term negative impacts. The consistent presence and involvement of a father figure plays a fundamental role in shaping a child’s personal identity, enhancing social skills, and helping the child cope with emotional challenges. This study aims to explore the common characteristics found in children who experience fatherlessness, as well as how these characteristics are formed as a result of the absence of paternal involvement in parenting. The method used in this research is a systematic literature review by analyzing a number of scientific articles obtained through Google Scholar and ResearchGate using the keywords “Fatherless,” “Child Characteristics,” and “Indonesia.” Based on relevance criteria, 10 journals were selected as the primary sources for analysis. The findings indicate that children experiencing fatherlessness tend to display characteristics such as difficulty regulating emotions, aggression, lack of empathy, low self-trust and trust in others, dependency, and high resilience. These characteristics are influenced not only by the absence of a father figure but also by parenting styles, modeling from the primary caregiver, and the child’s social environment. This study contributes to a broader understanding of the impact of fatherlessness on child development and may serve as a foundation for designing psychological interventions to support fatherless children.