No contact: Why family estrangement is rising among young people
Young adults are increasingly choosing to cut ties with toxic family members to preserve their peace of mind. This growing trend, often shared on social media and discussed in recent opinion pieces, highlights how many young people are openly navigating the process known as going "no contact."
Understanding family estrangement
Family estrangement, described as family members becoming strangers and intimacy being reversed, remains somewhat taboo, according to The New Yorker. However, advocates are working to normalize this phenomenon to reduce stigma and enable people to leave harmful family relationships without shame.
"Family members become strangers to one another like intimacy reversed."
Rising awareness and changing attitudes
Though data on family estrangement is limited, some psychologists report anecdotal evidence suggesting more young people are cutting off their parents. Others argue this may reflect increased openness rather than a real rise. Interest in this subject, while still emerging, suggests the issue is "hiding in plain sight," as family sociologist Karl Pillemer pointed out.
"The cliché 'hiding in plain sight' is really appropriate here." — Karl Pillemer
Research findings on estrangement
- In a 2019 survey by Karl Pillemer, 27% of Americans reported being estranged from a relative.
- Another study found that estrangement often begins in people’s 20s on average.
These insights reveal a significant occurrence of family estrangement, especially among younger generations.
Would you like the text to be more formal or conversational?