Father Absence and Psychological Distress Among Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Perceived Ambiguous Loss

Meita Sari

doi:10.59388/gt.v3i2.1058

Authors

Meita Sari Universitas Ma'arif Lampung, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59388/gt.v3i2.1058

Keywords:

Father Absence, Perceived Ambiguous Loss, Psychological Distress

Abstract

Father absence is a relational condition associated with adolescent psychological health, yet its effects may involve subjective experiences of relational loss. This study examined the relationship between father absence and psychological distress and the mediating role of perceived ambiguous loss. A quantitative explanatory cross-sectional survey was conducted with 415 high school students aged 15–17 years selected through multistage cluster sampling. Father absence was measured using the Father-Love Absence Scale (FLAS; 18 items; α = 0.93), perceived ambiguous loss using the Perceived Ambiguous Loss Scale (α = 0.89), and psychological distress using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10; α = 0.88). Data were analyzed using PROCESS Macro for SPSS Model 4 with 5,000 bootstrap resamples and 95% confidence intervals. Father absence was positively associated with perceived ambiguous loss (B = 0.51, SE = 0.04, p < .001), while perceived ambiguous loss was positively associated with psychological distress (B = 0.34, SE = 0.06, p < .001). The direct effect of father absence on psychological distress remained significant (B = 0.18, SE = 0.05, p < .001), and the indirect effect through perceived ambiguous loss was significant (B = 0.17, 95% CI [0.10, 0.25]), indicating partial mediation. These findings highlight the importance of addressing ambiguous relational loss in Islamic Education Guidance and Counseling services for students experiencing father absence.

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