Growing Up with an Absent Parent: A Mixed-Methods Approach on Parental Absence, Well-Being, and Romantic Relationship Processes

The goal of this study is to understand the experiences of having an absent parent, meaning a parent who is not physically or psychologically involved in raising a biological child by choice, and test how having an absent parent contributes to mental well-being and romantic relationship quality. Using family systems theory as a foundational framework, this study applied a mixed-methods design, where participants completed an individual interview ( N = 28; 100% had an absent parent) or online survey ( N = 174; 30.4% had an absent parent). Reflexive thematic analyses revealed negative psychological consequences, such as feeling guilty, numb, and depressed, due to having an absent parent. Those with an absent parent reported attachment issues, avoiding relationships in general, and trust issues in their own romantic relationships. Regression analyses revealed that for those with an absent parent, having more abandonment issues predicted poorer mental well-being, even when controlling for family functioning, communication, and rapport with the single parent growing up. Having an absent parent was also associated with increased sexual behaviors. Generally, having an absent parent was associated with interpersonal and relational consequences for emerging adults.