In recent years, psychological research has increasingly highlighted the profound influence of early familial relationships on adult romantic experiences. A groundbreaking study led by Özgür Erduran Tekin, published in BMC Psychology (2025), delves into the often overlooked yet critical domain of father neglect and abuse and its long-lasting effects on young women’s romantic relationships and mate selection processes. By utilizing a phenomenological approach, this inquiry uncovers intimate, nuanced narratives that illuminate how paternal deficiencies shape emotional frameworks, attachment styles, and partner preferences in adulthood. The study’s innovative methodology and compelling findings contribute valuable insights to the fields of developmental psychology, attachment theory, and trauma studies.
Understanding the role of the father figure in early development has gained traction but remains understudied compared to maternal influences. Erduran Tekin’s research centers on young women who have endured father neglect or abuse, investigating how these formative experiences resonate within their romantic lives. The phenomenological stance adopted offers a deeply qualitative lens, capturing lived experiences rather than relying solely on traditional quantitative metrics or secondary psychological scales. This methodological choice results in rich, textured data that reveal patterns of emotional response, coping strategies, and relational dynamics not easily discernible through conventional frameworks.
Central to the study is the conceptualization of father neglect and abuse not merely as isolated adverse childhood experiences but as complex catalysts that sculpt subsequent interpersonal relationships. Father neglect refers to emotional unavailability, lack of support, or outright dismissal, while abuse encompasses physical, emotional, or psychological maltreatment. Both forms exert multifaceted impacts on the formation of attachment models, self-esteem, and the internal working models young women carry into adulthood, directly influencing their romantic engagements and mate selection criteria.
Attachment theory serves as a fundamental theoretical underpinning in Erduran Tekin’s analysis. Early interactions with caregivers help forge primary attachment styles—secure, anxious, avoidant, or disorganized—that persist into adult relationships. The research reveals that women with histories of paternal neglect or abuse predominantly exhibit insecure attachment patterns, leading to heightened fears of rejection, difficulties in trust-building, and challenges in emotional regulation. These attachment insecurities significantly influence their choices of romantic partners, often drawing women toward relational scenarios echoing childhood dynamics, a process conceptualized as repetition compulsion in psychoanalytic discourse.
Moreover, the study meticulously dissects the psychological sequelae of paternal neglect and abuse through a phenomenological framework, paying close attention to the subjective meanings and emotional colorings embedded in participants’ descriptions. This analytical rigor enables a deeper grasp of how young women internalize their paternal relationships and navigate their complex emotional landscapes. Their accounts frequently spotlight feelings of abandonment, worthlessness, and yearning for validation, which manifest as relational vulnerabilities or defensive behaviors in romantic contexts.
An intriguing dimension explored concerns mate choice, which emerges as a domain where early paternal experiences exert a subtle yet profound influence. Women with adverse paternal histories tend to gravitate toward partners exhibiting traits mirroring their fathers’ behaviors—either replicating abusive patterns or seeking overcompensation. This phenomenon underscores the intricate interplay between early trauma and adult relationship dynamics, suggesting that mate selection is not solely dictated by conscious preferences but also by deep-rooted psychological scripts shaped in childhood.
Aside from attachment ramifications, Erduran Tekin’s study highlights the role of emotional regulation and self-concept in mediating the impact of paternal neglect and abuse. Many participants disclose struggles with managing intense emotions, oscillating between avoidance and hyperactivation, which complicate intimacy and conflict resolution in romantic relationships. Additionally, their self-esteem and body image issues often reflect early paternal criticism or neglect, consequently influencing their assertiveness or susceptibility to unhealthy relational dynamics.
The research further explores coping mechanisms respondents employ. While some young women exhibit resilience, leveraging therapeutic interventions or social support to overcome past wounds, others fall into maladaptive patterns, such as emotional dependency, relationship avoidance, or self-sabotage. These contrasting trajectories underline the heterogeneity of outcomes stemming from similar paternal adversities, inviting consideration of moderating factors such as individual temperament, maternal support, peer relationships, and socio-cultural context.
From a neurobiological standpoint, chronic exposure to neglect and abuse during crucial developmental windows may alter stress response systems, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, as implicated by existing literature. Though Erduran Tekin’s study is not directly neurobiological, the phenomenological descriptions resonate with broader psychobiological theories positing that early relational trauma reconfigures emotional processing pathways, which in turn shape relational behaviors and partner selection in nuanced ways.
Importantly, this research offers implications for clinical practice and prevention efforts. By enhancing understanding of how paternal neglect and abuse specifically influence women’s romantic lives, mental health professionals can tailor therapeutic strategies to address unique attachment wounds, promote emotional regulation, and guide healthier mate selection practices. Interventions focusing on trauma-informed care, attachment repair, and empowerment can mitigate the cycle of relational dysfunctions perpetuated by unresolved paternal traumas.
The study also beckons a cultural examination, as societal constructs about fatherhood, gender roles, and romantic ideals inform both paternal behaviors and women’s expectations in relationships. In various cultural milieus, norms regarding paternal involvement or masculinity may reinforce neglect or abuse patterns, further complicating girls’ developmental trajectories. Addressing these sociocultural dimensions is pivotal for comprehensive prevention and systemic change.
Erduran Tekin’s phenomenological approach stands as a methodological innovation that bridges subjective lived experience and psychological theory, enriching the discourse around familial trauma and adult romantic functioning. Unlike purely empirical or interview-based studies, phenomenology foregrounds the essence of experience, allowing the emotional texture and meaning-making processes of participants to guide analytic interpretation. This depth of insight paves avenues for more empathetic, individualized intervention frameworks.
Moreover, the resonance of this study extends beyond academia into public discussions about the ripple effects of paternal neglect and abuse. By illuminating how early paternal deficits cast long shadows over romantic relationships and mate choice, the research invites broader awareness and dialogue regarding the critical need for nurturing paternal engagement. Such awareness fuels advocacy for parenting programs, early intervention, and social policies supporting healthy father-daughter bonds.
In synthesizing these multifactorial findings, it becomes clear that father neglect and abuse operate as potent, often invisible architects of young women’s romantic realities. Their influence threads through emotional schemas, partner preferences, and relational expectations, sculpting patterns that may perpetuate pain or, with appropriate support, foster growth and healing. Erduran Tekin’s work is an essential contribution illuminating this dynamic and laying a foundation for future interdisciplinary explorations.
In conclusion, the phenomenological analysis conducted by Erduran Tekin reveals the intricate and enduring impacts of father neglect and abuse on romantic relationships and mate selection among young women. By capturing nuanced personal narratives and integrating them with psychological theory, this research elucidates the pathways through which early paternal adversities weave into adult relational identities. The implications for mental health practice, policy, and education are profound, emphasizing the importance of addressing paternal roles with sensitivity and depth. Future studies building on this work will help dismantle cycles of trauma and foster healthier relational engagements across generations.
Subject of Research: The impact of father neglect and abuse on young women’s romantic relationships and mate choice experiences.
Article Title: The role of father neglect and abuse in the romantic relationship and mate choice experiences of young women: a phenomenological analysis.
Article References:
Erduran Tekin, Ö. The role of father neglect and abuse in the romantic relationship and mate choice experiences of young women: a phenomenological analysis. BMC Psychol 13, 595 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02943-2
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