5 reasons more Americans are cutting off their own parents, according to psychologist

Cutting off family members is becoming more and more common, leading experts to consider the drivers of the division.

A 2025 YouGov survey found that 38% of U.S. adults are estranged from at least one family member, including siblings, parents, children or grandparents.

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