International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026): International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities

Factors Influencing the Impact of Fatherlessness on Children’s Mental Health: A Case Study of Working-Class Families

Dwi Putri Lestari (Islamic Guidance and Counseling Study Program, Faculty of Da'
wah and Communication, State Islamic University of North Sumatra, Indonesia)

Kamalia (Islamic Guidance and Counseling Study Program, Faculty of Da'
wah and Communication, State Islamic University of North Sumatra, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Jun 2026

Abstract

The phenomenon of fatherlessness in working -class families is one of the problems that affects the psychological and mental health of children due to the low involvement of fathers in parenting. This study aims to analyze the factors influencing fatherlessness and its effects on children's mental health in Saentis Village, Percut Sei Tuan District. The study used a qualitative descriptive case study approach, employing observation techniques, semi-structured interviews, and documentation from three informants selected through purposive sampling. Data analysis was carried out using the Miles and Huberman model as well as thematic analysis. Research results show that structural factors, such as economic limitations, uncertainty about the father's job, divorce, the father's death, and economic demands, influence the emergence of fatherlessness in the family class of workers. Impacted psychological experiences are child covering anxiety (anxiety), feeling insecure, attachment crisis, confusion, identity self, prolonged grief (unresolved grief), and accumulation of disappointment (resentment). According to Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory, the stages differ at each stage of children's development, namely, identity vs. role confusion in adolescents and intimacy vs. isolation in adults in early adulthood. Research shows that this expectation can inform the development of contextualized service guidance and counseling for children who experience fatherlessness.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ijssh

Publisher

Subject

Arts Environmental Science Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Social Sciences

Description

(IJSSH). It is an international refereed journal in english published four monthly (every February, June, and October). The IJSSH is an international peer-reviewed, electronic, online journal in english that provides rapid publication of articles in all areas of the social science, humanity and ...