From strain to estrangement: the role of personality in predicting parent-child relational outcomes

IntroductionParent-child estrangement is a prevalent yet understudied phenomenon, with existing research largely emphasizing circumstantial and cultural explanations while overlooking the potential role of personality. Guided by Five-Factor Theory, the present study examined whether Big Five personality traits and their lower-order aspects predict estrangement outcomes among parents and adult children within strained relational contexts.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional survey design, participants (N = 520; 368 parents, 152 adult children) were recruited from an online parent-child estrangement support community and completed measures of demographic characteristics, estrangement status (operationalized via frequency of contact and communication), and personality (Big Five Aspects Scale). Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted separately for parents and adult children, controlling for relevant demographic variables.ResultsAmong parents, higher extraversion significantly predicted increased odds of being estranged by an adult child. Among adult children, higher openness significantly predicted reduced odds of initiating estrangement. No other personality traits were significant predictors in either group. With respect to demographic variables, higher educational attainment among adult children was associated with reduced odds of estrangement.DiscussionThese findings suggest that personality traits help explain why similar relational contexts culminate in estrangement for some individuals but not others. Consistent with Five-Factor Theory, results support the proposition that basic tendencies are associated with characteristic adaptations, such as relational expectations, cognitive appraisals, and conflict styles, which are associated with estrangement-related behaviors. By identifying personality as a theoretically grounded and previously unexamined contributor, this study supports the development of more integrative models of estrangement that incorporate traits, culture, and circumstance.