{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7225082675","doi":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-11161249/v1","title":"\u2018It left a big wound\u2019: Young Black African Men\u2019s Lived Experiences of Growing Up Without Biological Fathers in South Africa","display_name":"\u2018It left a big wound\u2019: Young Black African Men\u2019s Lived Experiences of Growing Up Without Biological Fathers in South Africa","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-11-02","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7225082675","doi":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-11161249/v1"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-11161249/v1","doi":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-11161249/v1","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-11161249/v1","pdf_url":"https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-11161249/latest.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306525896","display_name":"Research Square","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":[],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"acceptedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"Research Square","raw_type":"posted-content"},"volume":null,"type":"preprint","is_traditional":true,"indexed_in":["crossref"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"green","oa_url":"https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-11161249/latest.pdf","any_repository_has_fulltext":true},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5020386093","display_name":"Aviwe Belani","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I10947320","display_name":"South African Medical Research Council","ror":"https://ror.org/05q60vz69","country_code":"ZA","type":"other","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I10947320"]}],"countries":["ZA"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Aviwe Belani","raw_affiliation_strings":["South African Medical Research Council"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"South African Medical Research Council","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I10947320"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5033909884","display_name":"Andrew Gibbs","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2812-5377","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2812-5377"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I23923803","display_name":"University of Exeter","ror":"https://ror.org/03yghzc09","country_code":"GB","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I23923803"]}],"countries":["GB"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Andrew Gibbs","raw_affiliation_strings":["University of Exeter"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"University of Exeter","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I23923803"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5046998402","display_name":"Laura Washington","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2189-6032","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2189-6032"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I4210141210","display_name":"Project Empower","ror":"https://ror.org/04k7cse40","country_code":"ZA","type":"nonprofit","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I4210141210"]}],"countries":["ZA"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Laura Washington","raw_affiliation_strings":["Project Empower"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Project Empower","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I4210141210"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5050119478","display_name":"Sivuyile Khaula","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7236-0329","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7236-0329"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I4210141210","display_name":"Project Empower","ror":"https://ror.org/04k7cse40","country_code":"ZA","type":"nonprofit","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I4210141210"]}],"countries":["ZA"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Sivuyile Khaula","raw_affiliation_strings":["Project Empower"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Project Empower","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I4210141210"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5092625815","display_name":"Nangipha Mnandi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7904-6375","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7904-6375"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I10947320","display_name":"South African Medical Research Council","ror":"https://ror.org/05q60vz69","country_code":"ZA","type":"other","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I10947320"]}],"countries":["ZA"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Nangipha Mnandi","raw_affiliation_strings":["South African Medical Research Council"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"South African Medical Research Council","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I10947320"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5053452796","display_name":"Smanga Mkhwanazi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9474-9992","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9474-9992"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I10947320","display_name":"South African Medical Research Council","ror":"https://ror.org/05q60vz69","country_code":"ZA","type":"other","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I10947320"]}],"countries":["ZA"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Smanga Mkhwanazi","raw_affiliation_strings":["South African Medical Research Council"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"South African Medical Research Council","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I10947320"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5020912645","display_name":"Yandisa Msimelelo Sikweyiya","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7153-5828","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7153-5828"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I10947320","display_name":"South African Medical Research Council","ror":"https://ror.org/05q60vz69","country_code":"ZA","type":"other","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I10947320"]}],"countries":["ZA"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Yandisa Sikweyiya","raw_affiliation_strings":["South African Medical Research Council"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"South African Medical Research Council","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I10947320"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":2,"institutions_distinct_count":3,"corresponding_author_ids":[],"corresponding_institution_ids":[],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":null,"has_fulltext":true,"cited_by_count":0,"citation_normalized_percentile":null,"cited_by_percentile_year":null,"biblio":{"volume":null,"issue":null,"first_page":null,"last_page":null},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10585","display_name":"Family Dynamics and Relationships","score":0.9824000000953674,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3317","display_name":"Demography"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/33","display_name":"Social Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10585","display_name":"Family Dynamics and Relationships","score":0.9824000000953674,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3317","display_name":"Demography"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/33","display_name":"Social Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11888","display_name":"Gender Roles and Identity Studies","score":0.01510000042617321,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3318","display_name":"Gender Studies"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/33","display_name":"Social Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12275","display_name":"Gender and Feminist Studies","score":0.00019999999494757503,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3318","display_name":"Gender Studies"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/33","display_name":"Social Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/father-absence","display_name":"father absence","score":0.9539999961853027},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/single-mothers","display_name":"single mothers","score":0.5109999775886536},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/masculinity","display_name":"masculinity","score":0.8820000290870667},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/identity-development","display_name":"identity construction","score":0.8029999732971191},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/female-caregivers","display_name":"women caregivers","score":0.7730000019073486},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/emotional-distress","display_name":"emotional distress","score":0.5339999794960022},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/economic-vulnerability","display_name":"economic vulnerability","score":0.6019999980926514},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/cultural-belonging","display_name":"cultural belonging","score":0.7919999957084656},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/coping-strategies","display_name":"coping strategies","score":0.9369999766349792},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/resilience","display_name":"resilience","score":0.6140000224113464},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/south-africa","display_name":"South Africa","score":0.7910000085830688}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C3019221131","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55621107","display_name":"Lived experience","level":2,"score":0.6377000212669373},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779103072","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1076509","display_name":"Masculinity","level":2,"score":0.6071000099182129},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C107993555","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1662673","display_name":"Gender studies","level":1,"score":0.5238000154495239},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C190248442","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q839486","display_name":"Qualitative research","level":2,"score":0.5094000101089478},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C73282008","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1759895","display_name":"Coping (psychology)","level":2,"score":0.5088000297546387},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C514793146","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q168796","display_name":"Spirituality","level":3,"score":0.47920000553131104},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C15744967","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9418","display_name":"Psychology","level":0,"score":0.44769999384880066},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2992814624","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817393","display_name":"Black male","level":2,"score":0.4375},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778355321","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17079427","display_name":"Identity (music)","level":2,"score":0.40959998965263367},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C144024400","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21201","display_name":"Sociology","level":0,"score":0.37049999833106995},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C138496976","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q175002","display_name":"Developmental psychology","level":1,"score":0.3619000017642975},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C163877629","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2642673","display_name":"Social constructionism","level":2,"score":0.35030001401901245},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780001913","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1516555","display_name":"Intersectionality","level":2,"score":0.33559998869895935},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C1691868","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1811049","display_name":"Life course approach","level":2,"score":0.3158000111579895},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778087770","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2297111","display_name":"Social support","level":2,"score":0.310699999332428},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C77805123","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q161272","display_name":"Social psychology","level":1,"score":0.3052999973297119},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C95713431","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q631425","display_name":"Vulnerability (computing)","level":2,"score":0.30160000920295715},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C137403100","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q41710","display_name":"Ethnic group","level":2,"score":0.2978000044822693},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C3018259312","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817393","display_name":"Black african","level":2,"score":0.29159998893737793},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C137176749","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4105337","display_name":"Psychological resilience","level":2,"score":0.28630000352859497},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2987028688","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49085","display_name":"African american","level":2,"score":0.2854999899864197},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C668760","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6869278","display_name":"Vocational education","level":2,"score":0.28200000524520874},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C176544851","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3307505","display_name":"Sociality","level":2,"score":0.27639999985694885},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2776307086","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1165905","display_name":"Sexual identity","level":3,"score":0.2621999979019165},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C98447023","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1540351","display_name":"Social identity theory","level":3,"score":0.26080000400543213},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C87156501","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7268708","display_name":"Qualitative property","level":2,"score":0.250900000333786}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-11161249/v1","doi":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-11161249/v1","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-11161249/v1","pdf_url":"https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-11161249/latest.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306525896","display_name":"Research Square","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":[],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"acceptedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"Research Square","raw_type":"posted-content"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-11161249/v1","doi":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-11161249/v1","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-11161249/v1","pdf_url":"https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-11161249/latest.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306525896","display_name":"Research Square","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":[],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"acceptedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"Research Square","raw_type":"posted-content"},"sustainable_development_goals":[{"display_name":"Reduced inequalities","score":0.7578999996185303,"id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/10"},{"display_name":"Gender equality","score":0.6025999784469604,"id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/5"},{"display_name":"Good health and well-being","score":0.5683000087738037,"id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/3"}],"study_designs":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"pdf":true,"grobid_xml":true},"content_urls":{"pdf":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7225082675.pdf","grobid_xml":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7225082675.grobid-xml"},"referenced_works_count":0,"referenced_works":[],"related_works":["https://openalex.org/W4392188224","https://openalex.org/W7056618848","https://openalex.org/W4410885020","https://openalex.org/W3023942709","https://openalex.org/W4391928245","https://openalex.org/W7047866553","https://openalex.org/W3097532884","https://openalex.org/W7220789814","https://openalex.org/W2057706940","https://openalex.org/W7098586292"],"abstract_inverted_index":{"Abstract":[0],"Background":[1],"Father":[2],"absence":[3,38,124,257,264,287,323],"is":[4,43],"a":[5,33,101,111,327,332],"widespread":[6],"social":[7,136,342],"reality":[8],"in":[9,39,161,258,268],"South":[10,40,112],"Africa":[11],"and":[12,23,29,56,86,115,118,134,137,159,165,173,189,200,203,225,248,278,304,335,343,377,379,384],"has":[13],"significant":[14],"implications":[15],"for":[16],"young":[17,53,193,270,307,359],"men\u2019s":[18,271],"psychological":[19],"well-being,":[20,273],"identity":[21,130,274],"formation,":[22,275],"masculinity":[24],"construction.":[25],"While":[26],"national":[27],"statistics":[28],"research":[30],"have":[31,48,90,182],"established":[32],"high":[34],"prevalence":[35],"of":[36,72,105,186,209,254,313],"father":[37,123,256,263,286,322],"Africa,":[41],"there":[42],"limited":[44],"qualitative":[45,66],"studies":[46],"that":[47,285],"explored":[49,68],"how":[50,87],"Black":[51,357],"African":[52,113,358],"men":[54,194,308,360],"experience":[55],"navigate":[57],"growing":[58],"up":[59,81,363],"without":[60,82,364],"their":[61,83,96,235,259],"biological":[62,84,255,365],"fathers.":[63,237],"Aim":[64],"This":[65,99],"study":[67],"the":[69,149,184,207,230,252,318],"lived":[70],"experiences":[71],"male":[73,222],"college":[74],"students":[75],"(aged":[76],"18\u201330":[77],"years)":[78],"who":[79,195,361],"grew":[80],"fathers":[85,366],"this":[88,205],"may":[89],"impacted":[91],"them":[92],"at":[93,110],"different":[94],"stages":[95],"live.":[97],"Methods":[98],"was":[100,125],"secondary":[102],"data":[103],"analysis":[104],"10":[106],"in-depth":[107],"interviews":[108],"conducted":[109],"Technical":[114],"Vocational":[116],"Education":[117],"Training":[119],"college.":[120],"Results":[121],"Biological":[122,262],"linked":[126],"to":[127,168,181,206,228,250,309,320,355,369],"emotional":[128,272,375],"distress,":[129],"uncertainty,":[131],"economic":[132,344],"vulnerability":[133],"disrupted":[135],"cultural":[138,276],"belonging":[139],"among":[140,191],"many":[141],"participants.":[142],"Despite":[143],"these":[144,177,210],"challenges,":[145],"some":[146,192,306],"participants":[147,213],"highlighted":[148],"central":[150],"role":[151],"played":[152],"by":[153,176,234,340],"female":[154,178,300],"caregivers":[155,179,301],"particularly":[156],"mothers,":[157],"grandmothers,":[158],"aunts":[160],"providing":[162],"emotional,":[163],"moral":[164],"material":[166,279],"support":[167,172,356],"them.":[169],"The":[170,315],"nurturing,":[171],"guiadance":[174],"provided":[175],"seems":[180],"facilitated":[183],"development":[185],"gender-equitable":[187,311],"attitudes":[188],"practices":[190],"described":[196,239],"being":[197],"empathetic,":[198],"caring":[199],"responsible":[201],"\u2013":[202],"attributed":[204],"influence":[208],"caregivers.":[211],"Other":[212],"relied":[214],"on":[215],"alternative":[216],"socialisation":[217],"agents,":[218],"including":[219,245],"peers,":[220],"extended":[221],"family":[223],"members,":[224],"digital":[226],"media":[227],"fill":[229],"fatherhood":[231],"void":[232],"left":[233],"absent":[236],"Many":[238],"having":[240],"utilized":[241],"various":[242],"coping":[243],"strategies":[244],"sports,":[246],"spirituality":[247],"self-reflection,":[249],"lessen":[251],"effects":[253],"lives.":[260],"Conclusion":[261],"emerged":[265],"as":[266,326,331],"critical":[267],"shaping":[269],"belonging,":[277],"security.":[280],"Yet,":[281],"narratives":[282],"also":[283],"suggest":[284],"does":[288],"not":[289,324],"produce":[290],"an":[291],"inevitable":[292],"pathway":[293],"into":[294],"harmful":[295],"masculinity.":[296],"Supportive":[297],"relationships":[298],"with":[299],"fostered":[302],"resilience":[303],"enabled":[305],"adopt":[310],"versions":[312],"manhood.":[314],"findings":[316],"emphasise":[317],"need":[319],"address":[321],"only":[325],"family-structure":[328],"issue,":[329],"but":[330],"relational,":[333],"gendered,":[334],"mental":[336,349],"health":[337,350],"issue":[338],"shaped":[339],"wider":[341],"conditions.":[345],"Culturally":[346],"grounded,":[347],"gender-transformative":[348],"promotion":[351],"interventions":[352],"which":[353],"aim":[354],"grow":[362],"are":[367],"needed":[368],"strengthen":[370],"protective":[371],"caregiving":[372],"networks,":[373],"promote":[374],"expression":[376],"help-seeking,":[378],"create":[380],"pathways":[381],"toward":[382],"healthier":[383],"more":[385],"equitable":[386],"masculinities.":[387]},"counts_by_year":[],"updated_date":"2026-11-05T12:25:35.769452","created_date":"2026-11-03T00:00:00"}