The Epidemic of Fatherlessness: Implications for Ethical Development and Mental Health

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the negative effects of fatherlessness on childhood development and the long-term impact on adult mental health. According to Bhugra, Watson, and Wijesuriya (2021), significant racial demographic differences existed in the prevalence of fatherless households. Harris (2019) noted that mental illness affected individuals across various racial groups, including Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans. Research by Bhugra et al. (2021) indicated that children raised in homes without fathers were more likely to experience mental health challenges. This study sought to determine whether a fatherless environment predisposed children to the development of skewed worldviews, aberrant behavior, and/or mental illness and unethical behavior in adulthood. Fifteen individuals were surveyed, interviewed, and asked to complete questionnaires. The participants, recruited from a church community in Houston, Texas, engaged in interviews conducted both in person and via Zoom conferencing. A structured methodology was followed to ensure consistency in data collection. The findings revealed emotional and psychological impacts associated with growing up without a father. Literature suggested that the number of children living in fatherless homes represented a rapidly growing segment of society (Folk, Stuewig, Mashek, Tangney, & Grossmann, 2019). This study was grounded in Family Systems Theory and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, examining how disparities in fatherless homes affected mental health and child development across different racial groups.