Father absence and psychological well-being among Indonesian migrant children in Malaysia: Protective roles of community learning centers and religious education
- Authors
-
-
Ilfiatul MarhamahUniversitas PGRI Sumenep, East Java
-
Iwan KuswandiUniversitas PGRI Sumenep, East Java
-
M RidwanUniversitas PGRI Sumenep, East Java
-
Wong Su LeeInstitut Pendidikan Guru Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
-
- Keywords
- Father Absence, Psychological Well-Being, Community Learning Centers, Religious Education, Indonesian Migrant Children
- Abstract
Paternal migration in Indonesian migrant-worker families presents a social paradox: improved household economic security coincides with reduced paternal emotional presence, or father absence, which may adversely affect children’s psychological well-being. This study examines the effect of father absence on the psychological well-being of primary-school-aged Indonesian migrant children in Malaysia, studies the mediating roles of Community Learning Centers (Sanggar Bimbingan) and religious education, and explores the psychosocial mechanisms that support children’s psychological robustness. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was used. Quantitative data were collected using Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and analyzed by regression and mediation analyses. Qualitative data were obtained through interviews and examined using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. The results show that father absence negatively affects children’s psychological well-being, whereas Community Learning Centers and religious education serve as protective factors by providing psychosocial and spiritual support. The qualitative findings further demonstrate that teachers, peers, and religious activities help improve migrant children's emotional management, optimism, learning motivation, and psychological resilience. The study determines that the adverse effects of father absence can be mitigated through supportive educational and religious environments. Accordingly, stronger collaboration among the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Community Learning Centers, schools, religious organizations, and government agencies is required to develop sustainable educational services and psychosocial support for Indonesian migrant children.
- References
-
Ahmed, S. K., Mohammed, R. A., Nashwan, A. J., Ibrahim, R. H., Abdalla, A. Q., Ameen, B. M. M., & Khdhir, R. M. (2025). Using thematic analysis in qualitative research. Journal of Medicine, Surgery, and Public Health, 6, Article 100198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glmedi.2025.100198
Asmaroini, A. P., Sulton, S., Kristiana, D., Shohenuddin, S., & Vaz, B. L. (2024). Strengthening the profile of Pancasila students with global diversity at Learning Studio Sentul Malaysia. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 16(3), 3672–3683. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v16i3.5078
Borualogo, I. S., & Casas, F. (2022). The children’s worlds psychological well-being scale: Adaptation and fit in the Indonesian context. Cogent Psychology, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2022.2053377
De Lima, R. G. (2024). School heads’ quality of life and work life: Its relation to psychological resilience and performance. International Journal of Research Publication, 151(1), 759–785. https://doi.org/10.47119/IJRP1001511620246788
Duraisingam, T. J., Veerakumaran, B., Arumugam, M., Muniandy, S., & Rafique, R. B. (2024). Right to education for children of Indonesian migrant workers living in plantations in Sabah – Understanding the gaps. International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, 20(3), 459–475. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-01-2024-0001
Efendi, E., Kuswandi, I., & Armadi, A. (2024). Implementasi Nilai Karakter Religius untuk Meningkatkan Kedisiplinan Siswa SB Gubuh Gajah Malaysia. Jurnal Pendidikan Tambusai, 8(3), 49028–49032. Retrieved from https://jptam.org/index.php/jptam/article/view/23516
Erwinda, L., Gutiérrez, L. V., Ngunjiri, N., Kholopane, P., & Escoton, J. (2025). Global patterns of father absence: A systematic literature review of causes. Journal of Counseling and Educational Research, 2(2), 75–88. https://doi.org/10.63203/jcerch.v2i2.397
Fahlefy, M. J., Kuswandi, I., & Jamilah. (2025). Implementasi pembelajaran berdiferensiasi untuk meningkatkan kemampuan literasi siswa kelas calistung Sanggar Bimbingan Muhammadiyah Malaysia. AL-MUADDIB: Jurnal Kajian Ilmu Kependidikan, 7(1), 43–54. https://doi.org/10.46773/muaddib.v7i1.1447
Gagliardi, M. (2021). How our caregivers shape who we are: The seven dimensions of attachment at the core of personality. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article 657628. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.657628
Haynes-Brown, T. K. (2025). The role of sampling in an explanatory sequential mixed methods study: General applications of the transformative paradigm. Methods in Psychology, 12, Article 100176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metip.2025.100176
Janapati, G., & Vijayalakshmi, V. (2024). Creating a resilient pedagogy: Character strengths intervention for aspiring educators. Acta Psychologica, 249, Article 104465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104465
Jeong, J., Bartoli, B., & McCann, J. K. (2024). Development and validation of a measure for father involvement during early childhood in a resource-limited context. BMC Public Health, 24, Article 2970. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20344-9
Kucukkaragoz, H. (2025). Review of the research literature on the impact of father absence on child development in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Journal of Lifestyle and SDGs Review, 5(4), e06117. https://doi.org/10.47172/2965-730x.sdgsreview.v5.n04.pe06117
Kushnir, I. (2025). Thematic analysis in the area of education: a practical guide. Cogent Education, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2471645
Kuswandi, I., Ridwan, M., Surur, M., & Shohenuddin, S. (2025). Interactive approaches in teaching values education: Applying qualitative methods to study religious education. International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 14(7), 630–636.
Kuswandi, I., Ridwan, M., Surur, M., Shohenuddin, S., & Asmoni. (2024). Curriculum construction for the education of Indonesian migrant workers’ children in Malaysia. Jurnal Pendidikan Progresif, 14(3), 2161–2175. https://doi.org/10.23960/jpp.v14.i3.202414
Kutscher, E., Zeng, W., Reardon, K., McDaniel, S. L., & Mazzotti, V. L. (2025). Pursuing equity through transformative mixed methods research: The case of secondary transition. Methods in Psychology, 12, Article 100188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metip.2025.100188
Maharani, D., Mahardhani, A. J., Cahyono, H., & Shohenuddin, S. (2024). Penguatan kearifan lokal Nusantara melalui media pembelajaran monopoli kebhinekaan bagi siswa SB Sentul Kuala Lumpur. Jurnal Ilmiah Kampus Mengajar, 4(1), 72–84. https://doi.org/10.56972/jikm.v4i1.74
Mansyur, A., Kuswandi, I., & Wahdian, A. (2024). Media Puzzle Pancasila: Meningkatkan minat belajar anak pekerja migran di Malaysia. Jurnal Basicedu, 8(6), 4692–4699. https://doi.org/10.31004/basicedu.v8i6.9008
Novianti, R., Putri, A. N., Maria, I., & Mpolomoka, D. (2025). Father absence in long-distance marriage and early childhood self-confidence in Indonesia: A qualitative phenomenological study integrating attachment and ecological systems theory. Al-Athfal: Jurnal Pendidikan Anak, 11(2), 303–319. https://doi.org/10.14421/al-athfal.2025.112-04
O'Dea, M. K., Igoua, E. R., Tilburg, W. A. P. van, & Kinsellaa, E. L. (2025). Affect, connect, and grow: How self-transcendent emotions foster meaning in life. The Journal of Positive Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2025.2604069
Peng, W., Hu, R., & Xiang, Y. (2024). Effect of father-love absence on subjective well-being: The mediating role of hope. Behavioral Sciences, 14(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14111097
Rahman, L. (2025). Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory in childhood resilience and motivation in learning: A literature review. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 13, 550–561. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2025.136037
Sholihah, A., Kuswandi, I., & Dewi, I. Y. M. (2025). Implementasi strategi guru dalam meningkatkan motivasi belajar pada siswa calistung di Sanggar Bimbingan Sungai Mulia 5 Gombak Kuala Lumpur. Pendas: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar, 10(1), 178–188. https://doi.org/10.23969/jp.v10i01.21671
Suarno, D. T., Suryono, Y., & Zamroni. (2021). Equalization access to education as an effort to foster the nationalism of Indonesian migrant workers’ children in border areas. European Journal of Educational Research, 10(4), 1825–1837. https://doi.org/10.12973/eu-jer.10.4.1825
Subramaniam, S., Maat, S. M., & Mahmud, M. S. (2022). Validity and reliability of the needs analysis instrument for the mathematics problem-solving module. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, 17(12), 4518–4529. https://doi.org/10.18844/cjes.v17i12.7836
Szymkowiak, A., Melović, B., Dabić, M., Jeganathan, K., & Kundi, G. S. (2021). Information technology and Gen Z: The role of teachers, the internet, and technology in the education of young people. Technology in Society, 65, Article 101565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101565
Tello, M., & Sánchez, G. E. (2025). Paternal migration and schooling choices: A study on children left behind in Ecuador. International Journal of Educational Development, 114, Article 103254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2025.103254
Theunissen, M. H. C., de Wolff, M. S., Eekhout, I., van Vulpen, C., & Reijneveld, S. A. (2024). A study on the applicability of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire among low- and higher-educated adolescents. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, Article 1289158. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1289158
Tong, P., & An, I. S. (2024). Review of studies applying Bronfenbrenner's bioecological theory in international and intercultural education research. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1233925. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1233925
Uzun, M. E., Kara, Ö., Şirin, H., & Kaymaz, N. (2023). Examination of relationship factors between psychological resilience and social support in adolescent obesity. Archives de Pédiatrie, 30(5), 277–282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcped.2023.02.008
Wulan, T. R., Muslihudin, M., & Wijayanti, S. (2023). The difficulty of education for the children of Indonesian migrant workers in Sabah Malaysia. Migration Letters, 21(2), 115–126. https://doi.org/10.59670/ml.v21i2.5855
Xiang, Y., & Zhou, Y. (2023). Development and validation of the father-love absence scale for adolescents. Behavioral Sciences, 13(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13050435
Zhou, Y., Zhong, H., Li, X., & Xiang, Y. (2024). The relationship between father-love absence and loneliness: Based on the perspective of the social functionalist theory and the social needs theory. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 26(2), 139–148. https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2023.046598
- Downloads
- Published
- 2026-07-20
- How to Cite
-
Marhamah, I., Kuswandi, I., Ridwan, M., & Lee, W. S. (2026). Father absence and psychological well-being among Indonesian migrant children in Malaysia: Protective roles of community learning centers and religious education. EDUCARE Journal of Primary Education, 7(1), 57–68. https://doi.org/10.35719/educare.v7i1.413
- Section
- Articles
- License
-
Copyright (c) 2026 Ilfiatul Marhamah, Iwan Kuswandi, M Ridwan, Wong Su Lee
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Copyright Notice
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under an Attribution-Share-Alike (CC BY-SA) license. that allows others to Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
This work is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0).EDUCARE: Journal of Primary Education
Published by Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training, Kiai Haji Achmad Siddiq State Islamic University of Jember, East Java, Indonesia
