Beaty, L.A. (1995, Winter). Effects of paternal absence on male adolescents’ peer relations and self-image. Adolescence.

OVERVIEW

Paternal absence is usually attributed to divorce and/or separation; death; career demands, such as military service; and high traveling jobs. The overall effects for children—particularly male children—who become father-absent prior to the age of five seem to be profound and long-term. This study aimed to support prior research’s determination of the negative effects of paternal deprivation on young male children as it related to the development of masculine self-concepts and resulting effects on peer relationship adjustments.

DESIGN

The sample was a small selection comprised of only 40 7th-8th grade boys, ages 13-14, from a Midwestern suburban middle school. This was purposeful since such schools have smaller enrollment, offering the potential for more frequent and in-depth peer relationships. Half were father-present males and half father-absent males, defined by having lived with someone other than the father for two thirds of the time and who had became father-deprived prior to the age of five years. The sample was ethnically represented by Caucasians (59%), African-Americans (30%), and Hispanics (11%).

FINDINGS

For the most part, the results of this study supported the findings of others, such as Hetherington (1966) and Biller and Bahm (1971). The particular area that proves important for those working with this age-group is in the area that relates to peer relationship adjustments. The results show that the specified individuals—those experiencing paternal deprivation prior to age five—exhibit these tendencies:

• Greater dependence on peers.
• More ambiguousness about one’s masculinity.
• Disfavoring of competitivism.
• Engagement in female-aggressive behavior.

As Lamb (1981) suggested in his research, the impact on peer adjustment cannot be overlooked or under-emphasized since it is male peers who supply strong role model functions for such boys.

CONCLUSIONS

This study, even if its only result is in supporting prior work, is extremely important for youth workers to consider and understand. It adds a piece of the puzzle to those currently working with youth, as they develop strategies in identifying and rectifying deficits in peer relationships and self-concept. It also supports the validity and necessity of doing additional research in this very significant area.

CRITIQUE AND EVALUATION

Because this study had a different design from previous ones it was looking to support, it needs to be noted that this study’s findings are open to a more varied possibility of interpretation. In this design, it is impossible to know whether alternative independent variables could account for specific observable differences. For example, a totally homogeneous group of suburban kids cannot, and do not, speak to urban or rural settings. However, the fact that this study so specifically replicates findings of previous ones does lend it considerable credence to the validity of the paternal absence interpretation.

IMPLICATIONS

1. The high mobility of society that takes parents—father or mother—out of the home for any reason deprives and undermines the value of family.
2. The significance of this especially happening for young boys prior to age five is extremely important to understand.
3. Simply knowing that this type of alternative family structure may have a negative effect on a young male’s personal and interpersonal capabilities is in itself an important piece of information for those who are in a position to offer assistance.
4. However, the fact that such a scenario in upbringing evidences itself by engaging in female-aggressive behavior has extreme singular importance and value which cannot be ignored.
5. For those of us who commit our lives to youth should heed a subtle warning that comes from this kind of research. What we do with and for kids today can have terrific ramifications later on in their lives.