DINAMIKA PSIKOLOGIS REMAJA FATHERLESS: SEBUAH STUDI FENOMENOLOGI TENTANG RASA KEHILANGAN DAN STRATEGI KOPING

Abstract

This study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the psychological dynamics of fatherless adolescents as they make sense of the experience of losing a father figure, develop coping strategies, and construct meaning from their life experiences. The focus of the study is to uncover the subjective experiences of adolescents who grow up without a father figure due to divorce, death, or work-related demands, and to understand how they adapt to the various psychological consequences that arise. This study employs a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design. The research was conducted at SMP Negeri 1 Lumbir, involving five fatherless adolescents selected using purposive sampling. The primary data were obtained through in-depth interviews with the subjects, while supplementary data were gathered through interviews with close friends and guidance counselors/homeroom teachers. Data collection techniques included in-depth interviews and non-participatory observation. Data analysis employed the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach. The results of the study indicate that the experience of growing up without a father gives rise to a sense of loss expressed in the form of longing, sadness, anger, disappointment, loneliness, and a feeling of incompleteness resulting from the reduced presence of a father figure in their lives. The resulting psychological dynamics involve different emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses in each subject, depending on the cause of fatherlessness, the quality of the relationship with the father, and the level of social support available. To cope with this situation, subjects develop various coping strategies, both adaptive and maladaptive. This study also found that the experience of growing up without a father not only results in psychological vulnerability but can also evolve into a source of meaningful learning and psychological growth through a continuous process of adaptation. The study’s findings contribute to the development of guidance and counseling research, particularly in understanding the subjective experiences of adolescents who have lost their fathers, and serve as a foundation for the development of counseling services that are more empathetic, contextual, and strength-based.

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memahami secara mendalam dinamika psikologis remaja fatherless dalam memaknai pengalaman kehilangan figur ayah, mengembangkan strategi koping, serta membangun pemaknaan terhadap pengalaman hidup yang dijalaninya. Fokus penelitian adalah mengungkap pengalaman subjektif remaja yang tumbuh tanpa kehadiran figur ayah akibat perceraian, kematian, maupun tuntutan pekerjaan, serta memahami bagaimana mereka beradaptasi terhadap berbagai konsekuensi psikologis yang muncul. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan desain fenomenologi. Penelitian ini dilakukan di SMP Negeri 1 Lumbir dengan melibatkan lima remaja fatherless yang dipilih menggunakan teknik purposive sampling. Sumber data utama diperoleh melalui wawancara mendalam dengan subjek, sedangkan data pendukung diperoleh melalui wawancara dengan teman dekat serta guru BK/wali kelas. Teknik pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui wawancara mendalam dan observasi non partisipatif. Analisis data menggunakan pendekatan Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pengalaman fatherless memunculkan rasa kehilangan yang diekspresikan dalam bentuk kerinduan, kesedihan, kemarahan, kekecewaan, kesepian, serta perasaan tidak utuh akibat berkurangnya kehadiran figur ayah dalam kehidupan mereka. Dinamika psikologis yang muncul melibatkan respons emosional, kognitif, dan perilaku yang berbeda pada setiap subjek sesuai dengan penyebab fatherless, kualitas hubungan dengan ayah, dan dukungan sosial yang dimiliki. Untuk menghadapi kondisi tersebut, subjek mengembangkan berbagai strategi koping baik adaptif maupun maladaptif. Penelitian ini juga menemukan bahwa pengalaman fatherless tidak hanya menghasilkan kerentanan psikologis, tetapi dapat berkembang menjadi sumber pembelajaran bermakna dan pertumbuhan psikologis melalui proses adaptasi yang berkelanjutan. Temuan penelitian memberikan kontribusi terhadap pengembangan kajian bimbingan dan konseling, khususnya dalam memahami pengalaman subjektif remaja fatherless, serta menjadi dasar bagi pengembangan layanan konseling yang lebih empatik, kontekstual, dan berorientasi pada kekuatan individu.