Family estrangement is more common than people think, but research shows the effects on wellbeing are mixed

‘In the moment, estrangement can feel like a clean relief – but it may not stay that way, even when it is necessary.’ Illustration: Mary Long/Getty Images

Despite media stories occasionally highlighting high-profile family estrangements, in many cultures estrangement carries a stigma, a direct challenge to deeply held values about what family should be.

People estranged from families often feel shame, or a sense they have failed, and carry the distress silently, in private. However, research on estrangement suggests it’s far more common than most people think.