Daddy Issues: Psychology, Causes, Signs, Treatment

During childhood, some people have distant relationships with their fathers or no relationship at all. Others might be so close that the relationship becomes unhealthy. Both situations can contribute to developing what people call 'daddy issues.' While people use this term often, 'daddy issues' are not an official mental health diagnosis.

This article discusses the psychology behind daddy issues, the signs you or someone you know has them, and why healthy relationships with father-like figures are important. You'll also learn whether or not daddy issues can be treated.

Why Do Some People Have Daddy Issues?

Children who had a troubled relationship with their father while growing up may have difficulty attaching to others as adults. When fathers are neglectful or abusive, this can cause their children to develop an insecure attachment style.

Unhealthy parent-child relationships may instill mistrust and uncertainty, leading to daddy issues later in life.

What Causes Someone to Develop Daddy Issues?

The following are a few factors that can potentially play a role in the development of daddy issues.

Unhealthy Close Bonds

While it's wonderful to be close to a father figure, in some cases, this bond can cross the line from being healthy and supportive to being unhealthy and damaging.

If someone has a close bond with their father, this might suggest that their father favored them or took especially good care of them, perhaps even spoiled them. It might also be that they resembled their father more than their siblings and were rewarded for it.

One explanation for developing an unhealthy close bond with one's father figure is if, while growing up, the father was attracted to or treated the child more like a date or romantic partner. This could lead to the child being subjected to mental, emotional, and sexual abuse.

An Absentee Father

Instead of having an overly involved father, sometimes people with daddy issues grew up with a father who was never around. The father might have worked a lot, left the family, or couldn’t be counted on due to a drug or alcohol problem.

Dads who are physically distant may also be emotionally distant. An emotionally unavailable father also leaves substantial wounds.

Sexual Abuse

Young children are vulnerable and trust parents to set appropriate boundaries. Sadly, adults sometimes cross those lines. A parent, stepparent, or another father figure may take advantage of vulnerable children, potentially causing the child to have daddy issues later in life.

Sexual abuse creates complicated feelings in children. They want to love their father figure for taking them out, playing games with them, and caring for them. But they are also in pain because of the abuse.

Children who are abused often blame themselves for what took place. Childhood trauma, neglect, and sexual abuse can cause them to feel shame. It also increases their risk of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Signs of Daddy Issues

How do you know whether you or someone you know may have what is commonly referred to as daddy issues? Below are a few signs to look for.

Only Dating Older Men

A person with daddy issues might only be attracted to older males or father-type replacements. If someone had an unhealthy connection to their father or their father was away for various reasons, older men may be more appealing to date or marry.

Being in a relationship with an older person may make them feel as if they have someone who will protect them. They may yearn for the missing love they never received, whether consciously or subconsciously. Or they might seek an older male who is wealthy or flashy, confident, or seemingly in control.

If they were the "apple of their father's eye," the person with daddy issues may even want to duplicate that relationship and find a partner who worships and adores them. A healthy relationship involves a genuine understanding of and respect for one another as equals—not one partner putting the other on a pedestal.

The danger of a relationship with a vast age difference may lie in a skewed power dynamic. Dating a much older, more successful father figure might force someone into a more passive or victimized position.

Being Jealous or Territorial

If individuals weren’t raised in a consistent, loving environment by their early caregivers, they might struggle to have meaningful relationships as adults. One sign of an attachment issue is being overly anxious or jealous.

Someone with daddy issues may constantly be worried that the person they’re dating is seeing someone else. Or they might imagine that someone is flirting with their partner.

Constantly Needing Reassurance

Rooted in a fear of being abandoned, those with daddy issues sometimes have an insatiable need to receive love. This fear might take the form of requiring constant affection, constant attention, or constant approval.

While the person is genuinely anxious for a deep connection and attachment, they often go about getting it in unhealthy ways. They might repeatedly ask their partner if they are angry at them, for example, or always question whether they made the right decision. Over time, this can take a toll on the relationship.

Abandonment Fears

Another sign of someone with daddy issues is wanting to be in a relationship at any cost. They might jump from one relationship to another because they're afraid to be alone.

However, people who fear being abandoned may inadvertently drive their partners away if they constantly need reassurance or if they consistently question their partner's love for them.

Repeating Toxic Patterns

People with daddy issues might be so accustomed to a dysfunctional relationship that they duplicate it over time.

So, it's possible that someone with daddy issues can consistently seek out toxic relationships because it's familiar to them.

Why Healthy Relationship With Father Figures Are Important

The importance of fathers being involved in their families is evident. For instance, some studies have found fewer behavioral problems in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who spent a higher quantity of time with their fathers.

Conversely, increased time and involvement with a father in at-risk families don’t contribute to a healthy dynamic. Instead, it can increase adverse behavior problems, especially if the father is physically abusive.

Scientific evidence shows that a physically abusive father can traumatize adolescents and lead to anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal. The adolescent may also mimic their father’s aggressive and violent behavior after spending more time together.

Can 'Daddy Issues' Be Treated?

In short, yes. For instance, there are ways to cope with an insecure attachment style by reconciling childhood experiences related to daddy issues and finding new ways to deal with insecurities. A good therapist can help guide those struggling with this.

Work to Resolve Attachment Issues

To resolve attachment issues and improve emotional regulation skills, those with daddy issues are encouraged to seek out the assistance of a qualified therapist. Counseling can help those wounded by their relationships with their father find new ways to have a healthy and loving partner relationship in the future.

In her practice, Bianca Rodriguez works to identify a client's attachment style and assess how it impacts their current relationships. If their attachment style impedes their ability to have healthy relationships, she helps them make changes to those behaviors. "This often includes rebalancing core beliefs about their worth, ability to trust others and feel in control of their actions," Rodriguez says.