The issue of fatherlessness, or the absence of a father figure within families, has become a growing concern in understanding the psychological development of children in Indonesia. The term does not always imply that a child has no father at all, but rather that the father may be emotionally absent during the child’s formative years.
Around 15.9 million children in Indonesia are estimated to grow up without an active father figure. Of these, 4.4 million live in fatherless households, while 11.5 million live with fathers who work more than 60 hours per week or over 12 hours per day.
Yet, the father’s role in the family is crucial in shaping a child’s self-confidence, moral values, and emotional intelligence.
Dean of the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (Psychology UGM), Dr. Rahmat Hidayat, explained that the absence of a father’s role should be understood not only in physical terms but also in emotional terms.
The lack of a father figure can affect a child’s development across psychological and social dimensions. Dr. Hidayat noted that the absence of a father often impacts children’s self-confidence and identity formation.
“Many families today experience the absence of fathers due to work demands that require high mobility. However, a father’s presence remains essential to support a child’s emotional and social growth,” he said on Thursday (Oct. 16).
Dr. Hidayat explained that there are three main learning processes in a child’s development: observational, behavioral, and cognitive. All of which require a father figure as a role model to support emotional growth.
Observational learning occurs when children, from an early age, learn through observing the behavior of others who serve as their models.
He explained that a father’s absence, whether emotional or physical, deprives children of a primary behavioral model for self-control, discipline, social interaction, and responsibility.
“One of the least recognized aspects is the observational learning process, in which children learn by watching, observing, and imitating patterns from early childhood onward. In this process, the key question is: who becomes the role model?” he emphasized.
Next, Dr. Hidayat described behavioral learning, which occurs through repetition and reinforcement of both positive and negative behaviors. This process involves mechanisms of reward and punishment.
Behavioral learning emphasizes the development of habits and the understanding of consequences, helping children learn accountability for their actions. Within families, fathers often serve as authority figures who set boundaries.
“A father provides rewards when a child behaves well and, conversely, gives correction when the child breaks the rules,” he said.
Finally, cognitive learning focuses on verbal interactions, including conversations and parental advice, which shape a child’s moral values and way of thinking.
Cognitive learning can be taught through verbal instructions, guidance, and dialogue that stimulate critical thinking.
According to Dr. Hidayat, fathers play a key role as guides in reasoning and moral development, helping children make sense of the social world.
“When we summarize these three elements of learning, it becomes clear that all require complete role models. The absence of a father removes one of these crucial models, making the child’s learning and development less complete,” he explained.
Furthermore, Dr. Hidayat stated that a father’s role can be partially replaced by other figures such as mothers, teachers, or extended family members who can serve as substitute role models.
In some instances, fathers who are physically distant due to work may still foster pride in their children as long as their emotional relationship remains strong.
“A child can feel proud of a father working away from home, even overseas, as long as the communication and emotional connection between them remain warm,” he said.
He emphasized the need for government involvement in addressing father absence, particularly through premarital education programs to prepare couples for parenthood.
Dr. Hidayat stressed that premarital programs should go beyond administrative formalities and provide a deeper understanding of values, responsibilities, and parental roles before marriage.
“Education on family roles must be an essential part of premarital preparation, as marriage is often seen as a natural step, while in fact, it is a new world that requires psychological readiness and role awareness between father and mother,” he explained.
Additionally, Dr. Hidayat noted that the government should promote equitable job opportunities outside Java to reduce the prevalence of fatherless families.
He argued that this issue cannot be blamed solely on individuals or families, as economic inequality and limited employment in certain regions are structural problems.
The emotional presence of fathers is closely tied to a family’s social and financial stability.
When economic pressures are high and jobs demand extensive mobility, emotional interaction between fathers and children tends to diminish.
Author: Cynthia
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Illustration: Freepik