Reuniting Estranged Family Members: A Cognitive-Behavioral-Systemic Perspective

Missing Grandchildren: Grandparents’ Lost Contact and Implications for Social Work

“…Estrangement can include physical (ceased contact) and emotional (withdrawn intimacy and warmth) estrangement. It can be fuelled by a desire to punish some family members, and cut-off family members can feel shock, anger, frustration, and distress (Agllias, 2013;Dattilio & Nichols, 2011). A "ripple effect" across other family relationships has been identified when estrangement within families occurs (Agllias, 2013, p. 311), although literature specifically discussing estrangement between grandparents and grandchildren appears uncommon.…”

“…Family breakdown, parental substance abuse, divorce of adult children, family disputes, children taken into state care, estrangement from adult children, contested child rearing practices, and closed or forced adoptions can all have the end result of decreased or lost contact with grandchildren (Dattilio & Nichols, 2011;Drew & Silverstein, 2007). Drew and Silverstein (2007, p. 372), drawing on the work of Boss (2002), noted that when grandchildren are "physically absent but psychologically present", grandparents experience ambiguous loss similar to that felt by families of missing persons.…”

“…According to Dattilio and Nichols (2011), and Agllias (2013) estrangement across generations is an under-researched, complex family state. Estrangement can include physical (ceased contact) and emotional (withdrawn intimacy and warmth) estrangement.…”

Family Estrangement: Establishing a Prevalence Rate

“…However, it often becomes an issue in clinical practice (Agllias, 2011;Dattilio & Nichols, 2011). Consequently, prevalence rates are unavailable (LeBey, 2001;Richards, 2008).…”

“…Among the various family transitions, researchers have noted that estrangement is a relatively neglected topic (Agllias, 2011;Dattilio, 2010;Dattilio& Nichols, 2011;Galvin, Bylund, & Brommel, 2008;LePoire, 2006;Turner & West, 2006;Ungar, 1999;Vangelisti, 2004). However, it often becomes an issue in clinical practice (Agllias, 2011;Dattilio & Nichols, 2011).…”