The Importance of Father Daughter Relationships

As Father’s Day approaches, Americans recognize and honor the contributions of loving fathers and father figures raising and mentoring children across our country. A father’s role is irreplaceable, and a strong father-child bond has long-lasting benefits. While many articles espouse the benefits for young boys, the same is true for young girls. Here are some ways a solid father-daughter bond positively impacts a daughter’s mental and emotional development.

Mental Health Benefits

Research shows a positive father-daughter relationship boosts a daughter’s mental health. A 2018 study found that close ties with fathers help daughters overcome loneliness. In the study, Ohio State researchers had nearly 700 families track parent-child interactions over five years. Parents rated relationships, while kids rated loneliness in the first, third, fourth, and fifth grades. Girls with closer father connections reported less loneliness from first to fifth grade. These findings stress the importance of fathers nurturing relationships, especially with daughters. Researchers advised dads to “Pay attention to their [daughter’s] feelings, especially when they are sad or unhappy, and help them cope. Our results suggest it can really help daughters feel less lonely over time.”

Other studies show that young women with healthy relationships with their fathers were less likely to become clinically depressed or anxious, develop eating disorders, body dysmorphia, or be dissatisfied with their appearance or body weight. Overall, they reported better emotional and mental health. There’s a strong link between daughters’ relationships with their dads and their adult stress management. For example, undergraduate women with good relationships with their fathers had higher than average cortisol levels, which buffer against stress.

Relational Benefits

Daughters with low cortisol levels, linked to weak father relationships, often describe their relationships with men negatively. A strong father-daughter bond can affect a daughter’s romantic life as an adult. A father sets the standard for treatment and expectations in future relationships. The Institute for Family Studies notes that daughters with strong father connections are less likely to experience teen pregnancy or early sexual activity. In college, they’re more likely to seek emotional support from partners and less likely to be coerced into risky sexual behavior. A solid bond can lead to healthier views on sex and dating, resulting in more satisfying, long-lasting partnerships.

Father Absence

As discussed, a father significantly impacts childhood development. While we’ve mentioned a few positive impacts of a strong father-daughter bond, the importance of their relationship is exemplified by the implications of its absence.

Impact

Paternal absence is increasingly common in families today. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 19.7 million children, over 1 in 4, live without a father at home. Many more have dads who are there physically but not emotionally. This “father factor” affects nearly all social issues in the United States. While maternal absence also impacts children, fatherlessness is more frequent and arguably more harmful. It negatively affects households, with 47.6% of these families living below the poverty line, and has multifaceted adverse effects on children. Kids without positive father figures suffer greatly. Fathers’ attitudes and behaviors can even impact birth outcomes while the child is still in the womb. In early childhood, those without good father relationships are more likely to face depression or disruptive behavior.

Former President George W. Bush addressed this issue, stating:

“Over the past four decades, fatherlessness has emerged as one of our greatest social problems. We know that children who grow up with absent fathers can suffer lasting damage. They are more likely to end up in poverty or drop out of school, become addicted to drugs, have a child out of wedlock, or end up in prison. Fatherlessness is not the only cause of these things, but our nation must recognize it is an important factor.”

In a Father’s Day speech, former President Obama echoed these sentiments, stating:

“But if we are honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that what too many fathers also are is missing — missing from too many lives and too many homes. We know the statistics — that children who grow up without a father are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crime; nine times more likely to drop out of schools and 20 times more likely to end up in prison. They are more likely to have behavioral problems, or run away from the home or become teenage parents themselves. And the foundations of our community are weaker because of it.”

Vincent J. Bove, recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award and national speaker and author, explored this idea in the Epoch Times. He expressed “alarming concerns” based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Justice, and Centers for Disease Control. They reported that fatherless homes account for 90% of homeless children, 85% of childhood behavioral problems, 71% of high school dropouts, 63% of youth suicides, 50% of teen mothers, and 85% of incarcerated youth. Bove argued that because the family is a citizen’s primary source of education and socialization, the problem of absentee fathers must be addressed to build healthy communities.

Mitigating Risks

What can be done to tackle these concerns? Many social services in the United States help single-parent households, like the Health and Human Services Agency, Center for Social Advocacy, Family Resource Centers, Community Health Services, Teen Centers, Volunteers of America, the YMCA, and the Boys and Girls Club. However, there’s a gap in mentoring and life skills training for teens from female-headed, single-parent homes. While current agencies have proved effective in the short term and have experienced some long-term success, more direct, focused programs are needed for lasting community change.

A study in the American Journal of Community Psychology (2015) examined the long-term economic benefits of natural mentoring for youth. Researchers found that having a male mentor was linked to higher earnings for fatherless youth but not for those with fathers or with female mentors. The study suggests male mentors provide unique guidance, like job skills, career options, and social values, acting as proxies for absent fathers. They can offer positive role models and guidance in social settings and help prevent risky behaviors.

Communities should use the results of these studies to bridge the service gap for the target population. Youth from single-parent, female-headed households would benefit from male mentorship or life skills programs. Strong relationships with their fathers or father figures lead to better outcomes for children and teens.

How You Can Help

1. If you’re a father, prioritize your relationship with your children! Find creative ways to spend time together, like trying an indoor kids’ obstacle course. There are many ways for parents to bond with kids. Even simple moments mean a lot! Just being present and available speaks volumes. Be an involved dad. The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse and our Father Engagement Program have tips and activities for dads on parenting, being intentional with their kids, and being involved. Responsible fatherhood programs exist nationwide.
2. Do your best to be available to kids in your community without a good father figure at home. This can be your nieces and nephews, kids at your church, your child’s sports team, or your kids’ best friends. Model a healthy, safe, and strong father relationship.
3. If you’re not a dad, you can still help! You can volunteer, become a mentor, get involved in foster care, coach a sports team, attend a father-daughter dance as a father figure, or help connect kids to positive male role models.
4. Support single moms! Single parenthood is tough, from working, paying bills, school drop-offs, extracurriculars, meal planning, grocery shopping, doctors’ appointments, love to nurturing—it all adds up! Bring a mom in your community a meal, offer to watch her kids for a night off, or run errands for her. Also, if the fathers of the children in your life are absent, resist the temptation to speak poorly of them. Talking badly of one of the child’s parents can make them believe there’s something wrong with them, too.
5. Donate your time, energy, resources, support, and finances to local and national organizations that support fatherhood programs and initiatives.

We all have a role in ensuring every child in our nation is loved, safe, nurtured, and cared for. This Father’s Day, whether you’re a father by biology, foster care, adoption, guardianship, mentoring, leadership, influence, or love, we at All For Kids honor and celebrate you!