The study received Institutional Review Board approval (IRB #2025‑041). Informed consent (parents) and assent (children) were obtained. Confidentiality was maintained through pseudonyms.
Family systems theory emphasizes and boundary regulation among members (Bowen, 1978). A father’s perception of his daughter as “mom‑full” often reflects a boundary diffusion where the child’s subsystem (the child) takes on functions of the parental subsystem. Such diffusion can destabilize the system if not compensated by other family adjustments. molly jane in dad thinks i am mom full
At first, Molly Jane found it amusing. She'd correct him playfully, saying, "Dad, I'm not Mom. I'm Molly Jane." But her dad, caught up in his own little world of making her feel included and responsible, kept referring to her as "Mom." The study received Institutional Review Board approval (IRB