Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

"Dad Deprivation" and the Importance of Fathers (with Anthony Bradley)

Sep 16, 2025

Anthony Bradley, a distinguished research fellow at the Acton Institute and professor at Kuyper College, tackles the pressing issue of 'dad deprivation.' He explores how the absence of fathers impacts children's mental health and behavior. The conversation covers the rising number of single-parent families, the influence of the Industrial Revolution on family roles, and the unique challenges faced in African-American communities. Bradley emphasizes the vital role fathers play in promoting emotional intimacy and resilience through nurturing interactions.

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ANECDOTE

Teaching Observations That Sparked Research

Anthony Bradley describes teaching boys who appeared disengaged while girls thrived, and finding struggling students often came from seemingly stable homes.
He links juvenile justice data showing 75–80% of boys in juvenile systems come from father-absent homes.

INSIGHT

Work Changes Reshaped Family Attachment

The Industrial Revolution separated fathers from daily family life and created adolescence and juvenile delinquency patterns.
That economic shift disrupted secure attachment and changed parenting norms in ways we still experience today.

INSIGHT

Main Causes Of Dad Deprivation

Two main drivers of single-mother households are divorce and intentionally having children outside marriage.
No-fault divorce and rising single mothers-by-choice produced dramatic increases in father absence since the 1950s.

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What accounts for the dramatic growth of kids living without their biological father in the home? What are some of the social impacts of what is called “dad deprivation?” What is the effect of dads on the mental health of kids? We’ll discuss these questions and more with our guest, Dr. Anthony Bradley, well known scholar and author, current distinguished research fellow at the Acton Institute and professor at Kuyper College.

Anthony Bradley serves as a distinguished research fellow at The Acton Institute and Research Professor of Interdisciplinary and Theological Studies at Kuyper College.
Dr. Bradley lectures at colleges, universities, business organizations, conferences, and churches throughout the U.S. and abroad. His writings on religious and cultural issues have been published in a variety of journals, including: the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Washington Examiner, Al-Jazeera, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Detroit News, Christianity Today, and World Magazine.
Dr. Bradley is called upon by members of the broadcast media for comment on current issues and has appeared on C-SPAN, NPR, CNN/Headline News, and Fox News, among others.
His books include: Liberating Black Theology (2010), Black and Tired (2011), The Political Economy of Liberation (2012), Keep Your Head Up (2012), Aliens In The Promised Land (2013), John Rawls and Christian Social Engagement (2014), Black Scholars In White Space (2015), Something Seems Strange (2016), Ending Overcriminalization and Mass Incarceration (2018), Faith In Society (2019), Why Black Lives Matter (2020), and Heroic Fraternities (2023).

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Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.

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