<![CDATA[Changes in family structure and dynamics over the past few decades have revealed an increasing trend of the father’s absence both physically and emotionally in children’s lives. This phenomenon has become a significant social issue because the father-child relationship plays a crucial role in shaping communication, emotional closeness, and the development of interpersonal skills in early adulthood. This study aims to examine the impact of fatherlessness on interpersonal communication skills within the father-child relationship and to identify the factors that influence communication styles, the development of emotional closeness, and the maintenance of the father-child relationship. The study employs a qualitative approach and was conducted at Campus III of Swadaya Gunung Jati University in Cirebon. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and non-participatory observation of students, supported by a literature review. Data analysis was conducted through the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. The results indicate that a fatherless upbringing tends to result in limited and functional communication patterns, characterized by low self-disclosure and a dominance of emotionally distant relationships. This pattern aligns with the “protective” type in Koerner and Fitzpatrick’s Family Communication Theory, which is characterized by low conversational orientation and high compliance orientation. In conclusion, a fatherless upbringing impacts the quality of students’ interpersonal communication; therefore, efforts to strengthen family communication and provide institutional support are necessary to minimize negative impacts on students’ emotional and relational development.]]>
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