Daddy issues can be the butt of some stereotypical jokes, but they are also a real thing. Daddy issues are mostly patterns that are formed by unresolved problems with a father figure in one’s life. And both men and women can have them!
If you find these issues interfering with your happiness or relationship, seek help from a therapist or community mental health clinic. But first, you can take this "Do I have daddy issues" quiz and find out if you do.
1. How would you describe your father?
A. Caring
B. Absent
C. Mean
D. Needy
2. What do you look for in a relationship?
A. Someone to complete me, the perfect partner
B. Someone who makes me the best version of myself
C. No one can really measure up
D. Intimacy without the baggage
3. Do you administer tests before you trust someone?
A. Yes, how else can I tell if they care
B. No, because no one is worth it
C. No, that’s not how trust works
D. Sometimes I do, but I never get far enough that it matters
4. Do you jump from relationship to relationship?
A. If you mean from fling to fling, yes.
B. Yes, though sometimes I can get hung up on my last one and why they left me
C. No, I’d rather be on my own and not get deeply involved with anyone
D. I’ve had some relationships but also plenty of time alone
5. What do you most fear in a relationship?
A. Not ever being good enough for the relationship I would like to have
B. Relying on someone else
C. My partner could leave me at any time
D. It depends on the relationship and the person
6. Do you have a difficult time putting up boundaries for people?
A. No, not really
B. Yes, I do
C. Maybe
D. I'm not sure
7. Have your friends pointed out that you seek validation from people?
A. No, not really
B. Sometimes
C. Most of the time
D. Yes, for sure
8. Do breakups affect you more than they affect other people?
A. No, not really
B. Sometimes
C. Most of the time
D. Yes, for sure
9. Are you someone who finds it extremely hard to stay single?
A. No, not really
B. Sometimes
C. Most of the time
D. Yes, for sure
10. Do you like dating men that are older than you are?
A. No, not really
B. Sometimes
C. Most of the time
D. Yes, for sure
11. Your partner is away on a trip; how do you feel?
A. Nervous, what if they cheat on me
B. Fine, I miss them, though.
C. Great, better to be alone
D. Like maybe I should move on if they are fine going away for a while
12. You and your partner are fighting, how do you react?
A. I don’t need them, so I leave
B. People let you down; this is just another sign this one is not for me.
C. I beg them to tell me they love me and try to show how much I love them
D. Well, we are fighting so I am mad, but I know we will find a way through it
13. Do you see a pattern in your relationships?
A. What relationships?
B. They end quickly; there’s always something wrong
C. Well, I think given enough thought, you can find a pattern anywhere?
D. I don’t think that I have ever been with a partner who really loved me
14. What is the most common phrase your partner or past partners uses to describe you in a fight?
A. Clingy or jealous
B. Aloof or distant
C. Nitpicky or withdrawn
D. I suppose sometimes they call me stubborn?
15. How would you describe yourself in a relationship?
A. Independent if I am in one
B. A bit dramatic and cautious
C. Very expressive and idealistic about my partner
D. Caring and secure
