In three areas—work, relationships with men, and mental health—the quality of the father-daughter relationship often has a greater impact than a mother-daughter relationship, says Linda Nielsen, Wake Forest University professor and author of “Between Fathers & Daughters: Enriching and Rebuilding Your Adult Relationship” (Cumberland House).
“Sadly, too many of us continue to downplay the importance of the father-daughter relationship in comparison to the mother-daughter relationship,” Nielsen said. “We still too often treat dads, especially divorced dads, like the mom’s ‘sidekick’ or her ‘apprentice’ in parenting. The research is so overwhelming and so consistent in regard to the lifelong impact that a dad has on his daughter, and also the tremendous impact that daughters have on their fathers.”
Nielsen has researched and written about the father-daughter relationship for more than 40 years. She offers practical advice for strengthening the father-daughter bond and explores the family dynamics that prevent fathers and daughters of all ages from having a more relaxed, more meaningful relationship. She looks at some of the barriers to good relationships including issues related to money and work, negative beliefs about fathers, communication, divorce and remarriage.
For more than two decades, she has taught “Fathers and Daughters” a course at Wake Forest devoted exclusively to father-daughter relationships. Her research and advice have appeared in national news outlets such as NPR, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, Seventeen, Woman’s Day and in a PBS documentary. Her work is also featured on many national organizations’ websites, including Stepfamily Association of America, National Center for Fathering, and the Center for Successful Fathering.
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