FATHERS’ RESILIENCE IN COPING WITH THEIR NEW ROLE AS SINGLE FATHERS AFTER THE DEATH OF THEIR WIVES DUE TO COVID-19 IN PURBALINGGA, CENTRAL JAVA

ABSTRACT: Families that are no longer intactleads to a restructuring of familial roles, necessitating singleparents to undertake dual responsibilities as both fathers and mothers for their children. This study aims todescribe the problems confronted by single fathers and their adaptive strategies during the Covid-19 pandemicin Purbalingga Regency. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach, data were collected through observation,interviews, and documentation. The findings illuminated the multifaceted difficulties encountered by singlefathers, encompassing childcare, sociall roles, family economy, and biological needs (sexual desires).Additionally, this study highlighted the resilient capabilities exhibited by single fathers, encompassing causalanalysis, self-efficacy, emotional regulation, empathy, and impulse control. Moreover, single fathers showedtheir dedication to fulfilling the diverse roles of a father, including being a child specialist and educator, ateacher and role model, a protector, caregiver, and provider for their children.

Keywords: single father, problems, role, resilience, Covid-19.