More Americans are choosing to walk away rather than work through difficult relationships, a new survey reveals.
Nearly two in five Americans — 38% — say they had “no contact” with a friend or family member in the past year, according to a survey of 2,000 adults conducted in March by Tucker Research for the therapy platform TalkSpace.
“These results suggest that ignoring relationship challenges is becoming more common,” said Dr. Talkspace, chief medical officer. Nicole Benders-Hadi said in a statement.
“But that approach can come with its own risks, making it harder to maintain meaningful connections over time and leading to more isolation.”
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Younger Americans were more likely than older generations to report being bitten by someone. The survey found that 60% of Gen Z respondents had “no contact,” compared to 50% of millennials, 38% of Gen X and 20% of baby boomers.
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A new survey found that nearly 38% of Americans have had “no contact” with a friend or family member in the past year.
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John Pauls, a Florida-based psychiatrist and assistant professor at Florida Atlantic University, said he has seen a growing trend of young adults, including Gen Xers, not contacting their parents in their practice.
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“This generation seems to have less tolerance for bad parental behavior,” Pauls, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “They often avoid conflict, which prevents them from trying to meaningfully work through their problems with their parents.”
Meanwhile, their parents are often unwilling to examine their role in any conflict within the relationship, Pools added.
“It creates a situation where neither side is willing to compromise or take ownership.”
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Thirty-six percent of overall respondents said feeling disrespected was the main reason they broke up with someone. About 30% said the relationship negatively affected their mental health or that the other person was very negative.
Younger Americans are more likely than older generations to cut ties with loved ones, according to a survey.
Cutoffs are often seen as final. Among those who said they had “no contact” in the past year, 59% said they were still not speaking to the person, according to the survey.
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The findings also suggest that “no contact” may be part of a broader retreat from uncomfortable interactions. Nearly three-quarters of respondents, 73%, said their tendency during relationship problems is to distance themselves instead of talking and working through the issue.
Other behaviors at the polls point in the same direction. More than a third of respondents said they had blocked a friend or family member on social media in the past year, while 30% said they had removed a loved one from a group chat.
The trend may reflect a broader shift toward avoiding uncomfortable conversations rather than solving relationship problems.
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While the study was sponsored by a therapy platform and has not undergone peer review, experts have previously told Fox News Digital that a “cutoff culture” is becoming common, with some arguing that media messages, including figures such as Oprah Winfrey and Beckham, have helped drive the trend.
Most experts agree that this strategy should only be used as a last resort.
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Pulse emphasized that no case of going zero contact with a family member or friend is the same, and while it is necessary in rare cases, it often leads to long-term regret and resentment.
“I always recommend to my patients to try to implement consistent family therapy, agreements and boundaries,” he said.
Experts recommend family therapy, setting boundaries and working toward a compromise before cutting contact.
Nari Jeter, a Florida-based licensed marriage and family therapist, agreed.
“Some people think that once you go no contact, you’ll immediately feel at peace. Usually that’s not the case,” she said.
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“It’s often a heart-wrenching and painful process,” added Jeter, who was not involved in the research.
But the move should not be forever, he noted: “Any contacts cannot become fertile ground for reconciliation in the future.”
Original article source: ‘No Contact’ on the rise: Nearly 2 in 5 Americans have cut ties with loved ones
