family estrangement

Commentators are describing family estrangement as an epidemic, arguing that growing numbers of people are cutting off contact with parents, siblings or adult children. The framing has sparked debate about how common estrangement really is, what drives it, and whether it reflects social breakdown or healthier boundaries.

The Wall Street Journal examines why a growing number of adult children are going estranged from their parents, a trend increasingly discussed under the idea of going 'no contact'. The report explores what drives the splits, from family conflict and boundary disputes to therapy-influenced thinking about toxic relationships, and how parents on the other side are coping with the sudden loss of contact with their children.