Fatherless dan Kemandirian Anak Usia Dini: Studi Fenomenologis tentang Faktor Protektif

Abstract

Fatherlessness in early childhood does not necessarily produce uniform effects on the development of children's independence, as its outcomes are shaped by caregiving experiences and the environmental support available to children. This study aims to identify the causes of fatherlessness, analyze its effects on early childhood independence, and formulate a relational pattern among fatherlessness, protective factors, and children's independence in Purwoharjo, Rimbo Bujang, Tebo Regency. The study employed a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design. Participants were purposively selected and consisted of three children aged 3–6 years experiencing fatherlessness due to parental divorce, paternal death, or fathers' work-related absence, along with six primary caregivers. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation and analyzed through bracketing, horizontalization, clustering of meaning units, textural and structural descriptions, and formulation of the essence of experience. The findings indicate that the effects of fatherlessness on children's independence are contextual and shaped by responsive maternal parenting, the presence of substitute father figures, the intensity of early attachment, and support from social and educational environments. When these protective factors are strong, children may develop adaptive autonomy, a form of functional independence that emerges in response to paternal absence, although in some cases it coexists with emotional vulnerability. These findings demonstrate that the relationship between fatherlessness and children's independence is not linear but is shaped by the interaction between paternal absence and the strength of protective factors