The psychologist found in her research many reasons, among others:

• "There are fewer children and greater expectations. In a different century, in a different era, families might have had six or eight children; and if one was difficult ore moved away there were all the others to be close to. Today, when families have only one or two children, not having a good relationship with one or two children becomes a total wipe out.
• We live much longer, which means the relationship continues for a much longer period.
• The family is no longer as central and as important as it once was. Concern with family is relegated to a low priority in making decisions. This is very different from what it once was when families lived in the same community, were involved together in their work, and shared relationships in their church or community.
• The enormous increase in the divorce rate has exacerbated the loosening of ties with family. Parents who were themselves often involved in difficult marriages and stayed in the marriage have great difficulty in understanding and relating to their children after what seems like a quick decision to divorce..."

Found in:
The Spiritual Side of Psychology at Century’s End
Roth, R.; Farley, F. (Eds.)