Fathers That Ignore Their Children Could Be Seriously Effecting Their Well-being

Sep 20, 2018

A white picket fence surrounds a cheerful, two-story house where children happily play in the yard while their two loving parents look on adoringly. It's a dream many have, but for some people, their reality is much different.

Not every child is lucky enough to have both of their parents actively involved in their daily life. For some, one of their parents may work a lot or simply choose to not be an active participant in their child's day to day activities. For others, one of their parents may not be involved at all and may desert their child.

While it's been known for many years how detrimental a father abandoning his family can be on a child's emotional and physical well-being, it's now becoming clear that any sort of rejection children receive from their father can have a big impact on their current and future circumstances.

This especially holds true for a child's social development.

It's hard enough for kids to make, and keep, friends in today's social-media driven world. More and more children are being bullied at school which can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. A recent study published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence shows that children who have experienced rejection from one of their parents, in particular from their father, are more at risk of developing fears and anxiety in social situations.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania discovered that children who suffered rejection at the hands of their father at a young age have difficulty making friends, interacting with their peers, and forming enduring relationships as they progress into adulthood.

One researcher in particular, Hio Wa "Grace" Mak, found that children who feel unwanted by their father are more timid and shy in social situations which can lead to a feeling of isolation and loneliness.

If the issues aren't addressed at a young age, those anxious feelings can follow them their whole lives, making it nearly impossible for them to form meaningful personal relationships.

The root of the problem goes back to a father breaking the trust of their child by ignoring or abandoning them. Once trust is broken, it's extremely difficult to gain it back. Children may fear that others will also break their trust so they instead isolate themselves in an attempt to protect their feelings.

It's important for caregivers, teachers, and other adults that are active in a child's life to address these fears of rejection head on through several different intervention techniques. The sooner their feelings are addressed, the higher the chance they have at establishing deep, trusting relationships in the future.

What do you think is the best way to approach children who are suffering from fears of rejection? If you or someone you know is encountering feelings of social anxiety or isolation due to their father's abandonment, be sure to pass this important information on so that they, too, might benefit from it.