Effect of parental abandonment on relationships?

Do you think a parent leaving the family when a child is at an early age affects their future relationships? A friend of mine experienced her father leaving when she was 5. As a result, she feels, she struggles to commit to guys, fearing their leaving and derives confidence from the attention of men - seeking out new partners and being promiscuous. She also treats guys rather badly. Has anyone else experienced this?

Do you think a parent leaving the family when a child is at an early age affects their future relationships? A friend of mine experienced her father leaving when she was 5. As a result, she feels, she struggles to commit to guys, fearing their leaving and derives confidence from the attention of men - seeking out new partners and being promiscuous. She also treats guys rather badly. Has anyone else experienced this?

I'd say that it's a common theme with men and women who have been abandoned, I was left by my mother (father didn't know I existed) and I grew up in care, my relationships aren't exactly solid and I tend to push people away rather than open up and let them in. I'm a guy, I sleep around and when in a relationship I sabotage, it's a hard cycle to get out of and I've had therapy but nothing works 100% so I feel I'll never overcome it but others I have met throughout my uni and work life have (strangely us children with single or no parents, end up finding each other).

This is interesting, as my friend is the same. She was raised in a fairly stable home with her mther ever present and a step father for most of her life, but still this abandonment at 5, leaving her in single parent family for a few years seems to have had an effect. She certainly pushes people away, running when feelings crop up, sleeps around to a certain extent, or did when she was younger certainly and told me that she "always saboatage the good things in life" - meaning relationships.