Family Estrangements Affect Millions Nationwide

In 2020, Cornell University sociologist Karl Pillemer reported that a national survey of more than 1,300 Americans found 27% of adults had cut off contact with a family member, representing at least 67 million people nationwide. These rifts often involved harsh parenting, favoritism, divorce, money disputes, conflicts with in-laws, or differences in values and expectations. Estrangement could force relatives uninvolved in the original conflict to take sides, spread across generations, and deprive family members of valuable social and financial support.

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