Young people are increasingly cutting off their parents due to a range of deep-seated issues including emotional abuse, toxic family dynamics, neglect, manipulation, and lack of emotional validation. Many adult children do so to protect their mental and emotional well-being from harmful, controlling, or neglectful behaviors that have caused lasting trauma or distress. This estrangement often follows years of unresolved conflict, unmet emotional needs, and sometimes outright abuse or invalidation. For many young adults today, cutting ties with parents is seen as an act of personal growth, self- protection, and reclaiming autonomy rather than an impulsive decision. Key reasons contributing to young people severing ties with their parents include:

• Emotional abuse such as belittling, manipulation, and constant criticism.
• Toxic family environments featuring favoritism, scapegoating, or enabling unhealthy behaviors.
• Parents' refusal to acknowledge past harms or apologize sincerely.
• Narcissistic or controlling parental behavior and emotional blackmail.
• Physical or sexual abuse by parents, or emotional neglect.
• Disrespecting boundaries and adult children's autonomy.
• Parental substance abuse or financial exploitation.
• Fundamental differences in values or rejecting their child's identity, especially regarding LGBTQ+ issues.
• Parental refusal to change or take accountability for destructive behavior.

Young people today also feel less societal obligation to maintain family ties when relationships are damaging. Open discussions on social media about toxic parenting have made it more socially acceptable to cut ties for the sake of mental health and personal development. Although estrangement can be painful and isolating, many report feeling relief, peace, and improved well-being after making this difficult decision.