This Father’s Day there is intense concern among young men throughout Britain about absent dads, according to the Centre for Social Justice. The think tank found six in 10 men aged 18 to 24 believe fatherlessness is a serious problem for Britain. Among the wider public, more than half (52%) shared this view.

Two-thirds of young men and half of young women say the absence of fathers is a leading cause of behavioural problems in children and young adults. Just as many of these young men agree that reducing fatherlessness would be good for the whole of society.

Earlier this year the CSJ published its Lost Boys report, which described how 2.5 million children in the UK have no “father figure” at home. It claims that in the mid-1970s fewer than one in 10 teenagers did not live with both natural parents. But now it says nearly half of first-born children by age 14 do not have live with them.

Ed Davies, the CSJ’s director of research, said: “The country agrees with the facts that fatherlessness is a large and growing problem that we need to face up to. Even more worrying is that this feeling is strongest among our young men – the most likely to have grown up apart from a father and feeling those effects most acutely.

“These are hard conversations to have but we need to have them: it is the reality that underpins everything from behaviour in our schools to the overcrowding in our prisons.”

The think tank’s research found three-quarters of children in custody said they had an absent father.

It states: “With the annual cost of a prisoner being £50,000, father engagement is imperative for cost saving, reducing the prison population, and lifesaving measures. Fatherlessness in childhood also has a particularly stark impact on the mental health of young men, yet, alarmingly, boys are more likely now to own a smartphone than to live with their dad.”

Carol Homden, the chief executive of the children’s charity Coram, which dates back to 1739, said: “Too many children are experiencing separation from fathers, and it is also a sad fact that not all fathers can or do offer the nurturing and support their children need to thrive.

“Today we celebrate the fathers making a positive difference in children’s lives, and reflect on the importance of dads to their children.”

Billy McGranaghan, founder of Dads House, which supports single parents and their children and families, said: “There are nearly half a million single dads in the UK who are the main carers for their children and take their responsibility of fatherhood very seriously and love the aspect of being a dad.”

He said a key challenge for lone dads is housing, describing a “pretty dire” situation where fathers end up “sofa-surfing” or renting a room in shared accommodation.

He said: “Accommodation is vital for a dad to maintain a healthy, steady relationship with his children, his employers and himself.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Through our plan for change, this Government will give children growing up in our country the best start in life. We are doubling investment to £500million to restore early family support services and reduce the risk of family breakdown.

“We want every child to achieve and thrive in school, which is why we are also expanding mental health teams, ensuring an additional 900,000 pupils will have access to support by April 2026. Our new attendance and behaviour hubs will also directly support schools across the country to tackle poor behaviour and high absence.”