Date

5-1-2025

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Rachel Piferi

Keywords

Absent fathers, child development, Black women, identity development, self-esteem, religion

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of 10 Black Christian women with absent fathers during childhood and adolescence. Using convenience sampling, these women were recruited through Facebook, TikTok, and email recruitment at Liberty University. The study’s criteria for participation were: (1) Black Christian women 18 years of age or older, (2) raised in a fatherless home during childhood and adolescence, and (3) raised with no stepfather in the home during childhood and adolescence. The study's findings revealed that the participants experienced a void due to the absence of a father figure, the lack of a father’s provision, and the absence of a father’s protection. The top 5 emotions experienced due to absent fathers were fear, rejection, anger, sadness, and abandonment. The experiences of participants in a single-mother home included financial difficulties, increased responsibilities for single mothers, and learning to develop strength, resilience, and independence. The participants struggled with an identity crisis during adolescence and had low self-esteem during childhood and adolescence. Their Christian faith helped them cope with the absence of their fathers by revealing God as a Father to the fatherless and revealing to them that their identity and self-worth are rooted in God. The study's findings could be significant in empowering Black women, a marginalized group, and in positively impacting Black families and communities, informing the public, and inspiring change in policies that affect the lives of Black girls and women.

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