Physical activity can bridge the gap between fathers and daughters. (Andrew Angelov/Shutterstock)
In a nutshell
- Father-daughter relationships have evolved dramatically over generations, from emotionally distant provider-based dynamics in the 1950s to more reciprocal, intimate bonds today, with physical activity serving as a key connecting point.
- Physical activity creates an effective bridge for father-daughter bonding because it allows fathers to maintain masculine identity while engaging in one-on-one parenting, creating a comfortable space for emotional sharing.
- While daughters across all generations desired closer connections with their fathers, only those born in the 1980s and 1990s experienced social conditions that made truly reciprocal relationships possible, suggesting broader implications for evolving gender relations.
ESSEX, England — The distance between fathers and daughters has been shrinking with each generation, and physical activity might be the bridge that’s bringing them closer. A typical 1950s father might spend his evenings recovering from work rather than playing with his children. New research from the University of Essex shows that while that used to be the norm, today’s dads are increasingly likely to bond with their daughters through shared bike rides, walks, and other active pursuits.
This generational transformation is documented in a new study published in Families, Relationships and Societies. Through interviews with women spanning several decades of birth years, John Day of the University of Essex uncovered how changing social expectations have allowed fathers and daughters to develop deeper emotional connections through the seemingly simple act of being physically active together.
The Evolution of Father-Daughter Bonds
Day’s research shows how father-daughter relationships have changed from emotionally distant provider-dependent dynamics to more balanced relationships where both share personal thoughts and feelings. What makes this especially interesting is that daughters across generations have always wanted closer emotional connections with their fathers, but only recently found social conditions that make this possible.
“My research shows daughters have always sought for a way to grow closer to their dads, while this has only recently become more of a focus for fathers,” says Day, in a statement.
Day interviewed 14 women born between 1950 and 1994 in the United Kingdom. By looking at their stories across different time periods, the research shows how activities like walks, cycling, and swimming have become places where emotional bonds between fathers and daughters grow stronger.
From Breadwinners to Buddies
For women born in the 1950s, fathers were mainly seen as providers who worked long hours. Louise, born in 1950, remembered how her father would stay home to work while the rest of the family went on vacations. During this time, fathers showed love primarily through financial support rather than emotional connection.
Women born in the late 1960s and early 1970s noted a small shift, with fathers starting to spend more time with their daughters, though still without much emotional sharing. Maria, born in 1974, recalled playfully running with her father from an early age, showing how physical activity was beginning to serve as a connection point.
The biggest change appeared in the stories from women born between 1986 and 1994. These younger women described rich, emotionally balanced relationships with their fathers, often built around shared physical activities. Charlotte, born in 1986, remembered cycling in the woods with her father and him sharing childhood stories about learning to ride a bike.
Why Physical Activity Creates Stronger Bonds
What makes physical activity so effective for father-daughter bonding? The study found that changes in what it means to be a dad, combined with a greater focus on exercise for health, have made physical activity a natural setting for relationship-building between fathers and daughters.
“From a father’s perspective, physical activity can simultaneously function as a method of upholding a masculine identity while performing one-to-one parenting, so they feel much more comfortable in this environment,” says Day.
Becky, born in 1992, shared a touching example. After her overweight father had heart bypass surgery, he told Becky and her sister that he never wanted them to be in that position. This honest health discussion, connected to their shared swimming activity, created a strong emotional bond that shaped Becky’s own relationship with physical activity.
Understanding Generational Change
Day’s research uses sociologist Karl Mannheim’s idea of “generation entelechy,” which means that generations carry the potential for social change that stays dormant until social conditions allow these changes to emerge. Put simply, daughters across generations wanted closer relationships with their fathers, but only recently have social norms around fatherhood shifted enough to make this possible.
This transformation happened alongside broader social changes, including changing expectations of fatherhood away from just being a financial provider toward more involved parenting, greater awareness of physical activity for health, and changing views of family relationships.
The Impact on Gender Relations
For women born in the 1950s and 1970s, the lack of emotional closeness with their fathers had lasting effects. Rachel, born in 1953, described how her father’s rejection after her parents divorced led to a lifelong need to prove herself worthy of his attention.
Meanwhile, women born in the 1980s and 1990s incorporated their fathers’ stories and shared experiences into their own identities. Their sense of self was partly built through the personal knowledge they gained from their fathers’ sharing; very different from earlier generations who knew little about their fathers’ inner lives.
“Key factors associated with fatherhood that have enabled this transformation are the increased prominence of involved fatherhood ideals and physical activity becoming a parenting and health-related practice that fathers feel comfortable performing and talking about,” says Day.
A Simple Walk with Big Impact
The research shows how physical activity itself has changed as a family practice. Earlier generations didn’t see deliberate exercise as a normal leisure activity. Claire, born in 1971, noted it would have been “bizarre” for her parents to join a gym or go for a run.
By contrast, for younger women in the study, physical activity provided a natural setting for building relationships with fathers. However, these daughters weren’t just passive recipients of their fathers’ interests; they actively shaped these interactions. The study found that both the health and enjoyment benefits of physical activity were valued by the younger women, but some also pushed back against attempts by their fathers to make activities competitive.
Despite these positive changes, the research indicates that the relationship between daughters and fathers was still shaped mostly by the fathers’ preferences, showing the ongoing influence of traditional gender roles even as relationships become more emotionally open.
The father who takes his daughter for regular walks or bike rides isn’t just helping her develop healthy habits; he’s potentially creating the foundation for a deeper emotional connection than his own father likely experienced with his children. This shift represents a significant step toward more emotionally balanced relationships between men and women, beginning with the fundamental relationship between father and daughter.
Paper Summary
Methodology
Day interviewed 14 women born between 1950 and 1994, divided across three age groups (20-29, 40-49, and 60-69 years). Participants varied in their physical activity involvement from highly active to “casual” participants, and none were from the same family. Interviews explored each woman’s physical activity history, memories of activity, family relationships, and how physical activity affected these relationships.
Results
The study found three distinct generational patterns: women born in the 1950s described fathers mainly as providers who remained peripheral in family life; those born 1968-1974 experienced slightly more involvement but without deep emotional connections; only women born 1986-1994 described truly reciprocal relationships with their fathers, often through shared physical activities. Daughters across all generations desired closer connections with their fathers, but only the youngest cohort found social conditions that enabled this.
Limitations
The sample was relatively homogeneous, with most participants being middle-class and White British. The small sample size means findings may not apply to all father-daughter relationships. The study focused on the UK context and relied on retrospective accounts of childhood experiences.
Discussion and Takeaways
Day argues that daughters have consistently desired closer emotional connections with their fathers, but only recently found social conditions allowing these desires to be fulfilled. Physical activity emerged as a practice where fathers could maintain masculine identity while building emotional bonds with daughters. The research suggests that daughters who experience childhood with emotionally available fathers may develop expectations of more reciprocated support from men throughout their lives.
Funding and Disclosures
John Day received no financial support for this research, and no conflicts of interest were declared. The study received ethical approval from Canterbury Christ Church University.
Publication Information
The 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.
