Effect of Father-Love Absence on Subjective Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Hope

Father love is recognized as an important factor in personal development. While previous research has extensively examined the adverse effects of father-love absence on subjective well-being, it is important to note that these studies often treated subjective well-being as a singular, overarching construct, potentially limiting validity and comprehensiveness compared to a bi-factor model. Consequently, this study aimed to establish a bi-factor model of subjective well-being and investigate its association with father-love absence, considering the mediating role of hope within the theoretical framework of resilience. The study employed a weekly diary method to explore the dynamic adverse effects of father-love absence on weekly subjective well-being, highlighting hope’s role in mitigating these negative impacts. Utilizing a weekly survey method with 470 participants over seven consecutive weeks, multilevel regression modeling revealed that father-love absence significantly and negatively impacts subjective well-being. Further, multilevel mediation modeling demonstrated the mediating role of hope within the resilience framework. This research has significant theoretical and practical implications for enhancing adolescent well-being through increased father involvement in parenting.