Family estrangement is drawing growing attention as experts examine why relatives become divided. A 2025 YouGov survey found that 38% of U.S. adults are estranged from at least one family member, including a parent, child, sibling or grandparent.

Public interest has also focused on NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his years of estrangement from members of his family. That division reportedly ended recently after he reconciled with his parents.

Dr. Richard L. Blake, a British psychologist and author based in Austin, Texas, identified five factors that he believes commonly contribute to fractured family relationships. His observations are based on his research and work in the field of family estrangement.

Differences in beliefs are one factor Blake highlighted. A longstanding study of more than 2,000 relationships between mothers and their adult children found that “value dissimilarity” was a strong predictor of estrangement.

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“That could be political values, that could be gender ideology,” Blake told Fox News Digital. He said political differences can become a major source of conflict within families.

Social media may also shape family divisions. A study involving nearly 9,800 teenagers found that spending more than two hours each day on social media was linked to significantly greater odds of negative relationships with one or both parents.

Blake believes social media can normalize estrangement by exposing users to viral stories about ending contact with relatives. He described this effect as “word-of-mouth mimicry.”

“Someone might see a video on TikTok — 'I cut off my parents, and I'm much happier now. They were toxic narcissistic boundary crossers. And now I'm great,'” he said. “And people mimic that. Or they think, 'Oh, this person's getting a lot of attention.'”

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However, Blake acknowledged that no long term studies have definitively documented an increase in family estrangement. He nevertheless argued that the absence of such evidence does not establish that an increase has not occurred.

Blake also pointed to cultural changes, arguing that society has moved away from what he called a “dignity culture” and toward greater emphasis on “victim culture.” In his view, claims of abuse or neglect may sometimes be used to create justification for cutting off parents.

Changing attitudes toward trauma and abuse are another part of what Blake described as “therapy culture.” He argued that some adults are encouraged to attribute struggles in their lives to actions their parents took or failed to take.

At the same time, Blake maintained that family relationships are an important protective factor for mental health. He cited a 2024 study led by German sociologist Karsten Hank, which found that adults estranged from parents or siblings reported lower life satisfaction and more depressive symptoms than people who maintained family relationships.

Blake also referred to a well known Minnesota study involving adopted twins. That research found that the twins often resembled their biological parents more than the adoptive parents who raised them.

Communication during conflict can help determine whether family disagreements develop into lasting estrangement, according to Blake. He recommended listening first and described techniques used in hostage negotiation as potentially useful during tense family conversations.

“[That means] listening to the other person and then repeating back what they said as you understood it and validating that … and then waiting until that person's really finished before you give your side of it.”

Blake warned that “moralized language” and “therapy words” can make compromise more difficult. He listed terms such as abuse, toxic, boundaries, narcissists and gaslighting as examples that may be directed at parents during disputes.

Instead of immediately reacting, Blake advised parents to ask what specific behavior an adult child considers toxic. He also recommended beginning with “I” statements instead of “you” statements and avoiding the words “always” and “never.”

Outside influences can contribute to estrangement as well, according to Blake. He said romantic partners may play a larger role for men and cited public figures Brooklyn Beckham and Prince Harry as examples of how partners can sometimes influence perceptions of family relationships.

Conflicting ideas about raising children may also strain relationships between adult children and grandparents. “Parenting styles are obviously different, and they've changed a lot over the last few years,” Blake said.

Blake criticized outcomes that he associated with gentle or permissive parenting and suggested that families reconsider the value of older generations. “Perhaps we should be learning from our grandparents more than the therapists.”

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