The Impact of Being Fatherless on the Self-Concept of Girls

EDUSOSHUM Journal of Islamic Education and Social Humanities Vol. 6, No. 2, May-August 2026, pp. 1112-1122 ISSN 2776-5229 1112 The Impact of Being Fatherless on the Self-Concept of Girls 1,2 Nabila Maharani1*, Dika Sahputra2 Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia * ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article history Received March 16, 2026 Revisied April 13, 2026 Accepted May 17, 2026 Keywords:Fatherless, SelfConcept, Female Child. This study aims to analyze the impact of fatherlessness on the selfconcept of girls in families. The research method uses a qualitative descriptive approach with a case study method. The research informants consisted of one girl as the primary subject and the mother as a supporting informant. Data collection techniques were carried out through in-depth interviews and documentation to obtain a comprehensive picture of the subjects' experiences and the dynamics of family relationships. The results show that fatherlessness has a significant impact on the formation of girls' self-concept. In terms of self-confidence, children tend to feel doubtful and less confident in their abilities. In terms of self-esteem, children feel less cared for and tend to be withdrawn. In terms of emotional management, children are not yet able to manage their emotions optimally and often suppress their feelings. In terms of motivation and self-development, children show low internal drive and a lack of confidence in their potential. Meanwhile, in terms of social relations, children tend to be cautious, selective, and have difficulty trusting others. Thus, the absence of a father's role influences the formation of girls' self-concept comprehensively, both psychologically and socially. 1. INTRODUCTION Family is the first and primary environment in the process of shaping a child's personality. Within the family, the roles of both parents, father and mother, have complementary contributions in shaping the child's emotional, social development, as well as self-concept (Iman & Iskandar, 2025). One phenomenon that is increasingly gaining attention in the study of family psychology and child education is the fatherless condition, which is a situation where a child grows up without the presence of a father figure physically, emotionally, or functionally in their life. The fatherless phenomenon does not always mean the absence of a biological father, but also includes the lack of a fatherly role in parenting, minimal interaction, and weak paternal involvement in the psychological development of the child (Desinta, Setiawati, Nursalim, & Ghozali, 2025). This condition can occur due to divorce, death, jobs that require high mobility, family conflicts, or the father's lack of involvement in the daily caregiving process. In the context of child development, the absence of a father figure can have a significant impact, especially on the formation of a daughter's self-concept. Self-concept is an individual's perspective of themselves, which includes physical, psychological, social, and moral aspects. A positive self-concept is formed through experiences of healthy interactions, self-acceptance, and emotional support from the family environment (Nurfatima & Hendriyani, 2026). For girls, the presence of a father plays an important role as the first figure who provides a sense of security, self-esteem, and emotional validation. Fathers also serve as the first relationship model that affects how girls view themselves in future social relationships (Chang, Kniess, Buschlen, & Fernandez, 2023). When the father's figure is not optimally present, a daughter has the potential to experience disturbances in the formation of selfconcept, such as low self-confidence, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty in building interpersonal relationships, and even a tendency to excessively seek external validation (Hadebe & Adanlawo, Nabila Maharani et.al (Impact of Being Fatherless on the Self-Concept..) EDUSOSHUM Journal of Islamic Education and Social Humanities Vol. 6, No. 2, May-August 2026, pp. 1112-1122 ISSN 2776-5229 1113 2024). In some cases, this condition can also affect emotional stability and the development of selfidentity during adolescence. One interesting case to study is the family of Mr. Sofiar in Tembung, where there is an indication of a fatherless condition in the dynamics of raising a daughter. This case study is important for understanding in depth how the absence of a father figure in that family context affects the self-concept of the daughter growing up within it. Each family has unique dynamics, so the case study approach allows researchers to explore subjective experiences, family environmental conditions, and factors that influence the formation of the child’s self-concept more comprehensively. Based on this background, this study becomes relevant to further examine the impact of fatherlessness on the self-concept of girls within the context of Mr. Sofiar's family in Tembung. This study is expected to provide theoretical contributions in the field of developmental psychology and family education, as well as practical contributions for parents, educators, and the community in understanding the importance of the father's role in shaping the character and self-concept of children. The fatherless phenomenon is one of the issues that is increasingly receiving attention in the study of developmental psychology and family education, especially because it is closely related to the formation of a child's self-concept. Research (Maina, Njiru, & Kitonga, 2021) shows that the absence of a father figure, both physically and emotionally, can affect a child's psychological development, such as low self-esteem, lack of confidence, and difficulties in building healthy social relationships. Nevertheless, these studies still show a number of limitations that need to be further considered. Previous research (Susanto & Chusairi, 2025) It is still dominated by a quantitative approach that focuses on measuring the variables of fatherlessness and self-concept through psychometric instruments, thus being less able to capture the subjective experiences and emotional dynamics of children in depth. In fact, self-concept is a psychological construct that is formed through complex social interaction processes, family experiences, and individual interpretations of their surrounding environment. In addition, existing research also tends to be general and has not much considered the local socio-cultural context, which also influences parenting patterns and child development in Indonesia. Another gap is seen from the lack of studies (Latifatma & Arsini, 2025) which uses an in-depth case study approach on certain families to understand the fatherless phenomenon contextually. Most studies focus more on the impact of being fatherless on deviant behavior, academic achievement, or juvenile delinquency, while the core aspect of the formation of self-concept in girls has not been explored comprehe (...truncated)