Cut off by your adult child? Psychology researcher reveals what parents should do next

Family estrangement has become increasingly common in the U.S. — but experts stress that reconciliation may still be possible after relatives have cut ties.

A 2025 YouGov poll found that 38% of U.S. adults were estranged from at least one close family member , including 16% who were estranged from a parent and 10% from a child.

Among parents estranged from their children, 70% said they would consider reconciling.

Research also suggests that many parent-child estrangements eventually experience a period of renewed contact.

In one nationally representative study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, 81% of adult children who experienced estrangement from their mothers later became unestranged, as did 69% of those estranged from their fathers.

5 REASONS MORE AMERICANS ARE CUTTING OFF THEIR OWN PARENTS, ACCORDING TO PSYCHOLOGIST While every relationship is different and there are no guarantees, Texas-based psychology researcher Dr.

Richard Blake stated that the majority of estrangements do come to an end – but willingness to change and find common ground is key.

In many cases, parent-child estrangements are a cycle — "they'll re-engage, then they'll fall out again," Blake said.

"One of the key things from the research is that adult children will reach out and if they see nothing has changed, they'll estrange again." In an interview with Fox News Digital, the psychology researcher shared the following steps that may increase the likelihood of repairing a fractured relationship.

Estrangement from an adult child can be seen as a form of "ambiguous loss" — a situation in which someone is gone, but there is still hope they could return, according to Blake.

He compared the situation to having a child missing in action: "You don't know if he's dead or alive and you kind of have to grieve, but you don't really know if you should be grieving, because there's hope." SECOND LADY USHA VANCE GETS CANDID ABOUT NEW BABY, JUGGLING FOUR CHILDREN AND MOTHERHOOD Research supports the significant emotional toll of estrangement.

In a 2025 study of older parents, being cut off from an adult child was associated with poorer well-being and a reduced sense of purpose, as well as greater depressive symptoms .

Before attempting a reconciliation with an estranged parent or adult child, Blake said the first priority should be stabilizing oneself.

"What I tend to recommend first is to get that person stable, have healthy habits and build a community," he advised.