A growing number of Americans are cutting ties with their family members, with 38% of US adults estranged from at least one family member, according to a 2025 YouGov survey. Dr. Richard L. Blake, a British psychologist based in Austin, Texas, has identified five key factors that contribute to this trend.
Factors Contributing to Family Estrangement
These factors include value dissimilarity, heavy social media use, a shift from a dignity culture to a victim culture, therapy culture, and outside influences such as romantic partners and evolving parenting philosophies. Dr. Blake notes that differing beliefs, including political values and gender ideology, can play a significant role in family rifts.
Social media can also normalize family estrangement by exposing users to stories of people who have cut off their parents and encouraging a ‘word-of-mouth mimicry’ effect. Additionally, the rise of a victim culture can lead people to create a victim status by suggesting their parents abused or neglected them, thereby justifying their decision to cut ties.
Dr. Blake emphasizes the importance of families in maintaining mental health, citing a study that found adults estranged from their parents or siblings reported lower life satisfaction and more depressive symptoms. He recommends that families communicate effectively during conflicts, using techniques such as active listening and avoiding moralized language.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
