NEW DELHI (Tuesday, March 10, 2026) — A groundbreaking study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) suggests that “hasslers”—individuals in your social circle who consistently cause stress or problems—may physically age you. The research found that for every additional “hassler” in a person’s life, their biological aging speed increases by 1.5%, leading to a biological age that is approximately nine months older than their chronological years.
The “Hassler” Effect: Key Findings
The study, led by Byungkyu Lee (Associate Professor of Sociology at New York University), analyzed data from over 2,300 adults in Indiana using advanced DNA methylation-based “biological aging clocks” (such as DunedinPACE and GrimAge2).
- Pervasiveness: Negative social ties are common; nearly 30% of participants reported having at least one “hassler” in their primary social network.
- The Impact of Kinship: The aging effect was significantly more pronounced when the difficult person was a family member.
- The “Spouse” Exception: Interestingly, “hassler” spouses did not show the same detrimental association with aging. Researchers suggest the positive benefits of marriage, like reduced loneliness, may buffer the stress caused by a difficult partner.
- Vulnerable Groups: Women, daily smokers, individuals in poorer health, and those with adverse childhood experiences were more likely to report having hasslers in their lives.
Why Negative People Age You
Researchers identify negative social ties as chronic stressors. Unlike temporary stress, these relationships create a persistent strain that triggers physiological responses:
- Inflammation: Constant social friction keeps the body in a state of low-grade inflammation.
- Immune System: Chronic stress from difficult relationships can compromise immune function.
- Epigenetic Markers: The stress actually changes the “tags” on your DNA, which are measured by biological clocks to determine how fast your cells are wearing out.
| Relational Metric | Findings |
| Aging Pace per Hassler | +1.5% increase in biological speed |
| Biological Age Gap | +9 months older for each additional hassler |
| Common Sources | Kin, coworkers, and roommates |
| Peripheral Ties | Hasslers often occupy “peripheral” positions in a network rather than central ones |
The Takeaway: Relational Boundaries for Longevity
The study underscores the need for social interventions. While much of aging research focuses on diet and exercise, this data suggests that setting boundaries and reducing exposure to harmful social ties is a vital, yet overlooked, factor in healthy aging.
Sources
- Lee, B., et al. (2026). “Negative social ties as emerging risk factors for accelerated aging, inflammation, and multimorbidity.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 123(8).
- Press Trust of India (PTI): “Negative people in your life could make you age faster: Study” (March 10, 2026)
- Psychology Today: “How Toxic People Make Us Age Faster” (February 22, 2026)
- Deccan Herald: “Want to delay aging? Cut negative people from your life, study says” (March 10, 2026)
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