NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF ABSENCE OF FATHER ON ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

The absence of a father is used to describe situations where the father is not residing in the family due to death, divorce or other reasons, or is physically present but does not exist emotionally for the child due to indifference, neglect, illness. The aim of this study is to focus on the negative effects of the absence of fathers on adolescents and contribute to the studies aimed at reducing these effects. In the literature review conducted for this purpose, the absence of a father was discussed in the sense that an adolescent was not staying at the same house with his biological father for some or all of his life, except for the loss of the father due to death. The literature focusing on the negative consequences of the absence of a father was examined. Studies showing the negative consequences of father absence show that some children who grow up without their fathers have trust problems because of the perception that they are abandoned. These children can behave with a higher sense of anger, and these problems towards puberty, youthful adulthood, increase the potential for crimes, including the use of illegal substances. Some studies have shown that the absence of a father has a negative impact on the child's academic performance and increases the likelihood of dropping out of school, but also increases suicidal or self-injurious behavior as well as emotional problems such as anxiety and depression. The information obtained has shown that children who grow up without their fathers experience more problems. In this context, it is recommended that parents and teachers act together in order to solve the problem, and especially school counselors should expand their individual and group counseling activities to include families.