A new study from University of California Irvine psychologists announced on May 7 finds that more than a third of Americans have lost relationships with friends, family, romantic partners, or coworkers due to political differences.
The research highlights how political disagreements are not only shaping public discourse but also impacting private lives. The authors introduce the term “political breakup” to describe the loss of a relationship because of differing political views and warn that this trend could threaten both democracy and individual well-being.
Ph.D. candidate Mertcan Güngör and Professor Peter Ditto conducted the study using four datasets totaling nearly 3,800 participants. Their April 2025 national survey found that 37 percent of Americans reported experiencing a political breakup at some point in their lives. Of those individuals, 62 percent lost a friend, 40 percent lost a family member, 29 percent lost a coworker, and 10 percent ended a romantic relationship over politics. More than half had experienced more than one type of loss.
“More than a third of Americans reported that they have lost relationships with friends, family, romantic partners and coworkers over political differences,” Güngör and Ditto write. “Those who lost relationships were more hostile toward their political opponents, voters more so than party elites.”
Güngör said friendships may be especially vulnerable: “Friendships may be uniquely vulnerable to political breakups as they are close enough to allow for political differences to surface while lacking the commitments and constraints that hold romantic and family relationships together. It’s easier to cut a friend or acquaintance whose politics annoy you out of your life than it is your boyfriend or uncle.”
The data suggest this phenomenon is accelerating; breakups following the 2024 presidential election surpassed those after the contentious 2016 race in about half the time. Analysis also shows Democrats report higher rates (47%) of such breakups compared to Republicans (29%), with independents at 39%. Among those who experienced these splits, two-thirds of Democrats said they initiated them versus just over one-quarter among Republicans.
People reporting these losses were found to be significantly more hostile toward opposing partisans—even after accounting for strength of identity—and perceived their opponents as holding more extreme views: “They felt colder toward the opposing presidential candidate, and even colder still toward ordinary voters on the other side of the aisle,” Güngör and Ditto note.
Güngör said this trend reflects growing affective polarization in America: “We try to find ways to bridge political divides while Americans keep burning bridges,” he says. He added that if people cannot hear real perspectives from others with different views, they risk becoming trapped in ideological bubbles fed by partisan media.
In an environment already marked by what has been called an epidemic of loneliness by U.S. health officials, severing social ties along partisan lines could further harm physical and mental health for many people.
Their conclusion warns: “Political breakups represent a threat to the well-being of a democracy – and likely to the well-being of its citizens.”
University of California Irvine participates in NCAA Division I athletics through its Anteaters teams; holds very high research activity status according to Carnegie classification; functions within the University of California system; focuses on advancing knowledge through research, education and public service emphasizing inclusive excellence; engages internationally through collaborations; and is accredited by WASC Senior College & University Commission—all according to the official website.