Sex-role identity, parental identification, and self-concept of adolescent daughters from mother-absent, father-absent, and intact families.

The effects of divorce and resulting paternal or maternal absence on the sex-role identity, parental identification, and self-concept of 39 adolescent daughters were investigated. Differences among the mean sex-role identity scores and self-concept scores of the daughters of mother-absent (MA), father-absent (FA), and intact (IF) families were not found. Parental identification with the mother and the father in the IF group was greater than identification with the mother in the FA group. Fathers in the MA and IF groups did not differ on the sex-role identity measure; FA and IF mothers also did not differ on this measure. The sex-role identity scores of the daughters were not related to the sex-role identity scores of either their mothers or fathers. The results revealed no negative consequences of the father receiving custody of an adolescent daughter and, therefore, suggest that fathers of adolescent daughters should be given greater consideration in custody cases.