The Effects of Not Having a Father

How does not having a father in a child's life effects them from youth to adulthood? What characteristics does a father help mode into a child's personality such as self esteem, being educated, motivated, and being respectful to women or men? What are somethings that fathers need to improve on within themselves? How can a father, who wants to get back in his child's life after the child has grown up, form a relationship with his child?