‘It left a big wound’: Young Black African Men’s Lived Experiences of Growing Up Without Biological Fathers in South Africa

Abstract Background Father absence is a widespread social reality in South Africa and has significant implications for young men’s psychological well-being, identity formation, and masculinity construction. While national statistics and research have established a high prevalence of father absence in South Africa, there is limited qualitative studies that have explored how Black African young men experience and navigate growing up without their biological fathers. Aim This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of male college students (aged 18–30 years) who grew up without their biological fathers and how this may have impacted them at different stages their live. Methods This was a secondary data analysis of 10 in-depth interviews conducted at a South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training college. Results Biological father absence was linked to emotional distress, identity uncertainty, economic vulnerability and disrupted social and cultural belonging among many participants. Despite these challenges, some participants highlighted the central role played by female caregivers particularly mothers, grandmothers, and aunts in providing emotional, moral and material support to them. The nurturing, support and guiadance provided by these female caregivers seems to have facilitated the development of gender-equitable attitudes and practices among some young men who described being empathetic, caring and responsible – and attributed this to the influence of these caregivers. Other participants relied on alternative socialisation agents, including peers, extended male family members, and digital media to fill the fatherhood void left by their absent fathers. Many described having utilized various coping strategies including sports, spirituality and self-reflection, to lessen the effects of biological father absence in their lives. Conclusion Biological father absence emerged as critical in shaping young men’s emotional well-being, identity formation, cultural belonging, and material security. Yet, narratives also suggest that father absence does not produce an inevitable pathway into harmful masculinity. Supportive relationships with female caregivers fostered resilience and enabled some young men to adopt gender-equitable versions of manhood. The findings emphasise the need to address father absence not only as a family-structure issue, but as a relational, gendered, and mental health issue shaped by wider social and economic conditions. Culturally grounded, gender-transformative mental health promotion interventions which aim to support Black African young men who grow up without biological fathers are needed to strengthen protective caregiving networks, promote emotional expression and help-seeking, and create pathways toward healthier and more equitable masculinities.