Moving Toward an Integrated Model of the Father–Daughter Relationship During Adolescence

Objective

This study offers a structural model of father–daughter relationships from the perspective of adolescent daughters and identifies relational constructs that promote closeness in the dyad.

Background

The relationship between fathers and daughters is important to daughters' healthy development yet is vulnerable to tension and distance, particularly during adolescence. Drawing on areas of father involvement that make positive contributions to the lives of adolescent daughters, we propose a relational framework of the father–daughter dyad.

Method

Undergraduate females (N = 206) retrospectively reported on their relationship with their biological father during adolescence using an assessment tool developed for this study.

Results

Constructs identified in the data included fathers' supportive involvement (composed of emotional support, autonomy support, communication, and shared activities), fathers' expectations, fathers' investment, daughters' desire for closeness, and daughters' perception of closeness. Findings indicated that supportive involvement positively and significantly predicted closeness, whereas expectations negatively and significantly predicted closeness.

Conclusion

This research proposes a structural framework of the father–daughter dyad and emphasizes the importance of fathers' emotional involvement and support in their adolescent daughters' lives.

Implications

Findings may inform interventions aimed to promote positive family relationships and provide a baseline comparison for future investigation of other types of father–daughter dyads.