Global Patterns of Father Absence: A Systematic Literature Review of Causes

  • Lira Erwinda 
    Universitas Bina Bangsa
    Indonesia
  • Laura Viqueira Gutiérrez
    Universidad de La Coruña, Spain
    Spain
  • Ndirangu Ngunjiri
    University of Nairobi
    Kenya
  • Paseka Kholopane
    University of South Africa
    South Africa
  • Jayvee Escoton
    University of the Philippines Los Banos 4031
    Philippines

Abstract

The global phenomenon of father absence significantly affects children's psychological, academic, and social development. This study employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach to pinpoint and consolidate the patterns and causes of father absence worldwide. We searched four primary databases Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, Google Scholar and found 253 articles. Following a screening process based on the PRISMA inclusion and exclusion criteria, we selected ten articles for detailed analysis. The synthesis reveals that factors such as labor migration, marital conflict, patriarchal cultural standards, and unsupportive social policies contribute to father absence. The impacts include children's reduced emotional well-being, lower academic achievement, and poorer social adjustment. These results support the idea that father absence is a multifaceted issue influenced not just by individual factors but also by structural and cultural elements. As such, inclusive policies and societal changes that promote fathers' emotional engagement and equal parenting duties are essential.

Keywords
  • Father Absence
  • Parenting Patterns
  • Systematic Literature Review
Lisensing Information
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite
Erwinda, L., Gutiérrez, L. V., Ngunjiri, N., Kholopane, P., & Escoton, J. (2025). Global Patterns of Father Absence: A Systematic Literature Review of Causes. Journal of Counseling and Educational Research, 2(2), 75–88. https://doi.org/10.63203/jcerch.v2i2.397
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