Father involvement and self-concept among adolescents in Indonesia: the moderating role of sex

Abstract Objectives Father involvement consistently predicts positive developmental outcomes, yet few studies have examined its relationship with self-concept among adolescents from collectivist cultural backgrounds, and fewer still have used culturally grounded measures. This study examined the relationship between father involvement and self-concept among adolescents and investigated whether sex and age moderated this relationship. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 302 adolescents (62.9 % female; 63.6 % middle adolescents) at a state Islamic senior high school in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, Indonesia, using a total sampling approach. Father involvement was measured using a culturally grounded instrument based on Malay customary paternal obligations, and self-concept was assessed using the Five-Factor Self-Concept Questionnaire (AF5). Data were analyzed using Spearman’s rank-order correlation, Mann–Whitney U test, and moderation analysis. Results Father involvement was significantly and positively associated with self-concept (r s =0.533, p<0.01), with the strongest correlation observed in the family self-concept dimension (r s =0.571, p<0.01). The association with emotional self-concept was not significant (r s =0.094, p=0.103). Sex significantly moderated the father involvement-self-concept relationship (B = −0.236, p=0.013), with stronger effects observed among male adolescents. Age did not moderate this relationship (p=0.884). Conclusions Father involvement is a significant predictor of self-concept among adolescents, with sex-differentiated effects that may reflect gendered socialization processes. These findings highlight the value of culturally grounded measurement approaches in understanding paternal contributions to adolescent development.