Subjective Well-Being Among Young Adult Men Who Have Experienced Fatherlessness

Dylla Aura Permata Sari; Dewi Sartika; Ika Risky Hidayah; Bagus Samsuri; Yonathan Setyawan

doi:10.59890/ijeps.v4i2.338

Authors

Dylla Aura Permata Sari Widya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University
Dewi Sartika Widya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University
Ika Risky Hidayah Widya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University
Bagus Samsuri Widya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University
Yonathan Setyawan Widya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59890/ijeps.v4i2.338

Keywords:

Early Adulthood, Fatherless, Subjective Well-Being

Abstract

Young adult men who have lost their father (fatherless) may experience negative impacts on their lives, particularly on their subjective well-being. The purpose of this study is to examine the profile of subjective well-being among young adult men who have experienced fatherlessness. The study included one participant selected based on the criterion of being a young adult man who lost his father figure during childhood. Data collection was conducted using semi-structured interviews and observation, which were then analyzed using a theory-led thematic analysis approach based on Diener’s (1984) theory of Subjective Well-Being (SWB). The findings revealed that the participant exhibited low levels of subjective well-being; however, there was emerging self-acceptance within the subject and the ability to cope with stress when overwhelmed by negative emotions. In the cognitive component (life satisfaction), participants tended to evaluate their lives negatively due to social comparisons with the “ideal family” and perceptions of unfair treatment by caregivers (extended family). In the affective component, negative emotions (such as envy, repressed anger, and insecurity) dominated over positive emotions. The absence of a father figure and a lack of emotional closeness with the mother significantly hinder participants’ ability to achieve happiness and self-actualization in early adulthood. Future research could employ a larger sample size and use an experimental approach to explore interventions aimed at improving subjective well-being among early adult men who grew up without a father.

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