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More Americans are choosing to leave difficult relationships than work through them, a new study says.
Nearly two in five Americans — 38% — say they “didn’t communicate” with a friend or family member in the past year, according to a survey of 2,000 adults conducted in March by Talker Research’s therapy platform Talkspace.
“These results suggest that avoidance of relationship challenges is beginning to increase,” said Dr. Nikole Benders-Hadi, chief medical officer at Talkspace, in a statement. “But that approach can come with its own risks, making it difficult to sustain meaningful relationships over time and leading to loneliness.”
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Younger Americans were more likely than older generations to report amputation. The survey found that 60% of Gen Z respondents have not “touched anyone,” compared to 50% of millennials, 38% of Gen X and 20% of baby boomers.
A new survey found that nearly 38% of Americans “had no contact” with a friend or family member in the past year. (Stock)
John Puls, a Florida-based psychiatrist and adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University, said he has seen a growing trend of older adults, including Gen Zers, not communicating with their parents in his work.
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“This generation seems to have a low tolerance for bad behavior from their parents,” Puls, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “They usually avoid conflict, which prevents them from trying to solve their problems with their parents.”
Their parents, on the other hand, are often unwilling to examine their role in any conflict within the relationship, Puls added. “This creates a situation where neither party is willing to compromise or take ownership.”
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Thirty-six percent of respondents said the top reason for breaking up with someone was feeling disrespected. About 30% said the relationship had a negative impact on their mental health or the other person was not very good.
Younger Americans are more likely to cut ties with loved ones than older generations, according to a study. (Stock)
Cutoffs generally seem to be permanent. Of those who said they had “no contact” in the past year, 59% said they still haven’t spoken to anyone, according to the survey.
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The findings also suggest that “no contact” may be part of a broader shift away from informal engagement. About three-quarters of respondents, 73%, said their instinct during relationship problems is to distance themselves rather than to communicate and work together on the issue.
Other behavior at the polling station points in the same direction. More than one-third of respondents said they had blocked a friend or family member on social media in the past year, and 30% said they had removed a loved one from a group chat.
The trend may reflect a broader shift toward avoiding uncomfortable conversations instead of solving relationship problems. (Stock)
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While the study was sponsored by the medical field and has not yet been peer-reviewed, experts have told Fox News Digital that “breakup culture” is becoming more common, with some saying that media messages — including figures like Oprah Winfrey and the Beckhams — have helped drive the trend.
Most experts agree that this strategy should only be used as a last resort.
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Puls stressed that no case of not contacting a family member or friend is the same and although it is necessary in rare cases, it often comes with long-term regret and resentment. “I always recommend to my patients to try family therapy that is progressive, compromising and using boundaries,” he said.
Experts recommend trying family therapy, setting boundaries and working on quitting before turning to cutting contact. (Stock)
Nari Jeter, Ph. “Some people think that if you don’t communicate with yourself, you’ll feel at peace immediately – that’s not the case,” she said.
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“This is often a sad and painful process,” added Jeter, who was not involved in the research.
But the movement should not be permanent, he noted: “No contact can be fertile ground for reconciliation in the future.”
