General Article Family rifts affect millions – research shows possible paths from estrangement toward reconciliation

Topic Selected: Families and Parenting Book Volume: 417

Family rifts affect millions of Americans – research shows possible paths from estrangement toward reconciliation

Early research suggests that nearly 1 in 5 Americans, about 68 million people, are in the midst of a family estrangement. baona/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Karl Pillemer, Cornell University

Family relationships are on many people’s minds during the holiday season as sounds and images of happy family celebrations dominate the media. Anyone whose experiences don’t live up to the holiday hype may find this difficult or disappointing, but those feelings may be felt even more acutely among those involved in family rifts.

I have done a significant amount of research on ambivalence and conflict in families, which led to a five-year study of family estrangements.

At the outset, I was surprised at how little evidence-based guidance exists on the frequency, causes and consequences of family estrangement, or how those involved cope with the stress of family rifts. T...

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