Navigating university life without fathers: Lived experiences and perceptions of students from father-absent households in Gauteng, South Africa

The presence of both parents in a family is often considered vital for the holistic development of children; however, the absence of a father can significantly disrupt this process. Guided by Bowen’s family systems theory, this study explored the lived experiences and perceptions of university students raised in father-absent households, focusing on the emotional, social, and financial consequences of father absence. A hermeneutic phenomenological design was adopted, with 12 participants purposively selected from five academic schools within one public university in Gauteng province, South Africa. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically. Findings revealed that father absence was linked to emotional neglect, financial strain, and physical abandonment, which fostered resentment and anger toward absent fathers and jealousy toward peers with present fathers. These experiences highlight the profound psychological and social impact of father absence on young adults. Bowen’s theory, comprising eight interlocking systems differentiation of self, triangles, the nuclear family emotional system, the family projection process, emotional cut-off, the multigenerational transmission process, sibling position, and societal regression provided a valuable lens for interpreting these dynamics. The study concluded that children raised in father-absent environments require sustained support from available relatives, particularly mothers, to mitigate emotional distress and foster resilience.