Negative Relationships May Accelerate Biological Aging
A study in PNAS links stressful social ties—termed “hasslers”—to accelerated biological aging measured via saliva-based aging markers. About 30% of participants reported at least one hassler, and each additional hassler was associated with roughly nine extra months of biological age and a 1.5% faster aging pace, especially when hasslers were family members. Spousal stress did not show the same link, suggesting complexity in close relationships. Negative ties also correlated with poorer health indicators, implying chronic social stress may contribute to aging, though causality can’t be confirmed.