Engaging in physical activities can strengthen the bond between fathers and daughters. (Andrew Angelov/Shutterstock)
Summary
Over the decades, father-daughter relationships have evolved from emotionally distant, role-based interactions in the 1950s to more intimate connections today. Physical activity plays a pivotal role in fostering these deeper bonds.
Engaging in physical activities allows fathers to embrace their identities while actively participating in nurturing roles, ultimately paving the way for emotional conversations.
Although the desire for closeness has always existed across generations, it is only the daughters of the late 1980s and 1990s who have witnessed societal shifts enabling mutually fulfilling relationships, highlighting significant changes in gender dynamics.
ESSEX, England — Each generation has seen a gradual reduction in the emotional distance between fathers and daughters, largely thanks to shared physical activities. Fathers of the 1950s typically prioritized work over playtime with their children, but recent research from the University of Essex reveals a significant shift. Today’s fathers are increasingly bonding with their daughters through biking, walks, and various active pursuits.
This generational change is chronicled in a recent study published in Families, Relationships and Societies. Dr. John Day from the University of Essex conducted interviews with women spanning several decades of birth years, uncovering how evolving social expectations have enabled fathers and daughters to form more profound emotional connections through shared physical activities.
Dynamics of Father-Daughter Relationships
Dr. Day’s study illustrates the transformation of father-daughter interactions from a model focused on financial support to balanced relationships marked by shared thoughts and feelings. The intriguing aspect is that while daughters have consistently longed for closer emotional ties with their fathers, only recent generations have found sociocultural conditions conducive to such connections.
According to Dr. Day, daughters have historically sought closer relationships with their fathers, a need that has only more recently garnered focus from fathers themselves. Through interviews with 14 women born between 1950 and 1994 in the UK, Dr. Day captured how activities such as walking, cycling, and swimming have increasingly become environments where emotional connections flourish.
Historical Shifts in Fatherhood
For women born in the 1950s, fathers were primarily providers who worked extensive hours. Louise, a participant born in 1950, recounted her father remaining at home to work while the family vacationed, illustrating a time when love was predominantly expressed through financial means rather than emotional engagement.
Women born in the late 1960s and early 1970s reported a gradual shift, with fathers beginning to invest more time with their daughters, albeit still limited in emotional expression. Maria, born in 1974, reminisced about playfully running with her father, indicating the historical roots of physical activity as a connection point.
The most pronounced transformation is observed in narratives from women born between 1986 and 1994, who described rich, balanced relationships centered around shared activities. Charlotte, born in 1986, reminisced about cycling with her father, during which he shared stories from his youth about learning to ride a bike.
Bonding Through Activity
What makes physical activity so vital for father-daughter bonding? The study highlights that changing perceptions of fatherhood, combined with emphasizes on health and fitness, have established physical activity as an ideal space for building relationships.
“From a father’s perspective, engaging in physical activities helps maintain a masculine identity while allowing them to parent one-on-one, creating a safer environment for emotional connection,” Dr. Day explains.
Becky, born in 1992, shared a poignant story: after her father underwent heart bypass surgery, he expressed a desire for his daughters never to find themselves in that situation as he had. This heartfelt conversation, tied to their shared swimming sessions, forged a strong emotional bond that profoundly affected Becky’s view of physical activity.
Social Change in Parenting
Dr. Day references sociologist Karl Mannheim’s concept of “generation entelechy,” suggesting that generations possess a latent ability for social change, which only manifests under favorable social conditions. In essence, while daughters have long yearned for intimacy with their fathers, it is only recently that evolving social standards of fatherhood have allowed for such relationships to thrive.
This evolution has accompanied broader societal changes, such as a shift in expectations of fatherhood beyond mere financial provision to more nurturing roles, a growing awareness of health-related physical activities, and changing perceptions of family dynamics.
The Impact on Gender Relations and Fatherhood
Women born in the 1950s and 1970s often found that a lack of emotional intimacy with their fathers had lasting effects. Rachel, born in 1953, described how post-divorce rejection from her father instilled a lifelong need to prove her worthiness for his attention.
Conversely, women born in the 1980s and 1990s incorporated their fathers’ stories and experiences into their identities. Their self-perception was significantly shaped by the personal insights shared by their dads, a stark contrast to earlier generations who were largely uninformed about their fathers’ inner worlds.
“Transformative factors in fatherhood include the rise of engaged fatherhood ideals and the comfort dads feel in discussing health-related physical activities,” notes Dr. Day.
A Simple Walk Can Make a Difference
The study highlights how the practice of physical activity within families has evolved. Previous generations often did not recognize deliberate exercise as a part of leisure. Claire, born in 1971, stated it would have seemed “bizarre” for her parents to join a gym or take up running.
In contrast, for the younger women in the study, physical activity provided a natural avenue for cultivating relationships with their fathers. Additionally, these daughters were not merely passive in their interactions; they actively shaped the dynamics of their shared experiences. The study revealed that while they appreciated both the health benefits and enjoyment derived from physical activity, some daughters resisted their fathers’ competitive inclinations.
Despite the positive changes, fathers’ preferences still predominantly shaped the father-daughter relationship, illustrating the lingering influence of traditional gender roles even as connections become more emotionally open. Fathers who engage their daughters in regular walks or bike rides not only encourage healthy habits; they are laying the groundwork for deeper emotional ties that may surpass those experienced by their own fathers. This transformation signifies a substantial move towards more emotionally balanced relationships between men and women, beginning with the core relationship of father and daughter.
Study Summary
Methodology
Dr. Day interviewed 14 women born between 1950 and 1994, organized into three age cohorts (20-29, 40-49, and 60-69 years). Participants demonstrated a spectrum of physical activity involvement, ranging from highly active to casual participants. The interviews examined each woman’s past experiences with physical activity, family dynamics, and the influence of activity on their relationships.
Findings
The study identified three generational trends: women born in the 1950s largely viewed fathers as distant providers; those born between 1968 and 1974 saw a minor increase in paternal involvement, lacking emotional depth; while only women born between 1986 and 1994 reported genuinely reciprocal relationships with their fathers, frequently nurtured through shared physical activities. A consistent desire for closer father-daughter connections was evident across generations, yet it was the younger cohort who encountered supportive social conditions.
Limitations
This study was somewhat homogeneous, primarily featuring middle-class and White British participants. The limited sample size restricts the applicability of the findings to all father-daughter relationships. The research focused on the UK context and relied on retrospective insights into childhood experiences.
Discussion and Takeaways
Dr. Day argues that daughters have continually yearned for closer emotional connections with their fathers but have only recently found social conditions conducive to fulfilling these desires. Physical activity emerged as a vital practice through which fathers could maintain a masculine persona while forging emotional ties with their daughters. Daughters who grow up with emotionally available fathers are likely to carry expectations for reciprocal support from men in their lives.
Disclosures
Dr. John Day disclosed that he received no financial support for this study and declared no conflicts of interest. The research received ethical approval from Canterbury Christ Church University.
Publication Information
This article, titled “The generational shift towards the reciprocal disclosure of intimacy in daughter–father relationships through physical activity in the UK,” was published in Families, Relationships and Societies in January 2025.
