Search Here

Several studies have looked into the effects of single-parent households and have found links between this aspect and children's development. In a newer study, researchers from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom discovered the negative effects that the absence of a father could have on a young girl. The researchers concluded that the particular time in life that a father chooses to leave his family could severely impact the growth his daughter, increasing her risks of developing depressive symptoms.

The research team looked at 5,631 young children that had their health and wellbeing recorded since birth. The researchers separated the children based on their ages, with one group composed of children from zero to five-years-old and the second group made up of children over five and up to 10-years-old. The researchers studied the effects of not having a father during these two stages and found that girls younger than five had an increased chance of developing depressive symptoms later on in life, whereas girls older than five were less prone to these symptoms. These symptoms did not necessarily stay into adulthood.

The researchers theorized that younger girls could be more susceptible to feeling the absence of a father since they have not developed good coping mechanisms. Furthermore, the researchers found that girls tended to be more vulnerable than boys because they are more likely to be affected by negative interpersonal relationships and family matters. They hope that these findings could have parents and doctors screen for depression and help prevent it in these girls that would be considered higher risk.

The research teams checked for several factors that could have influenced these findings. These factors included finances, social status, family size, custodial conflicts, the mother's education level, history of depression, and home ownership. The researchers noted that there were still some limitations that could have influenced the findings. These limitations were level of contact between the father and the daughter and the quality of the father-daughter relationship.

The study was published in Psychological Medicine.