That Stressful ‘Friend’ May Be Ageing You Faster

If you have ever had the intuition that certain people in your life drain more than just your energy, you might be right. A new study suggests difficult relationships could actually speed up how fast your body ages.

Researchers funded by the National Institute on Ageing examined the health impact of what they call “hasslers”, which are people who regularly create problems or make life more difficult. The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Researchers analysed data from more than 2,000 adults and tested saliva samples for biological markers linked to ageing.

The result was eye-opening. Each additional “hassler” in someone’s life was linked to about a 1.5% increase in the pace of biological ageing.

Nearly 30% of people said they had at least one such person in their social circle. Family members, co-workers, and roommates were among the most common sources of stress.

Lead researcher Byungkyu Lee said negative relationships can become constant stress triggers. These ties “may function as chronic stressors”, meaning the strain can build up over time and affect physical health.

Lead researcher Byungkyu Lee of New York University explained that negative relationships can become constant stress triggers. “Having those people around you actually makes your life really challenging,” he said.

Experts say cutting people off is not always realistic. Instead, they recommend setting boundaries and spending more time with people who support you.

The bottom line is that not every relationship helps you; some may be quietly wearing you down, and causing more wrinkles.