We all know this feeling. A meeting with a certain person that leaves us exhausted, irritated or tense. Sometimes it is a family member, sometimes a coworker and sometimes a neighbor or a friend. But it turns out that the impact of those people does not end with a temporary mood. A new study indicates that such people may also affect our physical health and even the rate at which the body ages.
The new study was published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and was funded by the National Institute on Aging in the United States. The researchers sought to examine how negative relationships affect biological processes related to aging.
They focused on a phenomenon known as Hasslers. These are people who make life difficult for others, create problems, generate tension or cause a persistent sense of stress.
According to the researchers, while positive relationships are known to extend life and contribute to health, negative relationships may operate in the opposite direction.
How relationships affect the body
Many studies have already shown that a supportive social network can improve health. People who are surrounded by supportive friends and family are at lower risk of cognitive decline, chronic diseases and even premature death.
There is also evidence that good friendships may affect aging at the cellular level. But not every social connection is necessarily supportive.
According to Professor Byungkyu Lee from New York University, the lead researcher of the study, some of our social ties can be a source of ongoing stress.
There are complex relationships that include both support and tension. Others are mainly a source of stress.
When such people are present in our lives on a regular basis, they may become a factor of chronic stress.
The study that examined the rate of aging
As part of the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 2000 participants from a health survey conducted in the state of Indiana in the United States.
Participants were asked to answer questions about their relationships over the past six months. They indicated whether there were people in their lives who make things difficult for them, cause problems or create stress. In addition, they rated their overall health status.
The researchers also collected saliva samples from the participants. Using the samples, they examined changes in DNA that serve as biological markers of aging.
This allowed the researchers to compare the rate of aging between people who have Hasslers in their lives and those who do not.
The result was surprising.
The researchers found that each additional person who makes the participant’s life difficult increased the rate of biological aging by about 1.5 percent.
That is, instead of the body aging one year for each calendar year, a person who is in regular contact with such an individual may age at a slightly faster rate.
According to the researchers, even such a small effect may accumulate over the years and lead to an earlier appearance of chronic diseases.
The effect was particularly noticeable among people who reported that they have two or more people who make their lives difficult.
However, the researchers emphasize that this is a statistical association and not definitive proof of cause and effect.
Who is more likely to experience such relationships
The study found that women reported more than men about people who make their lives difficult. According to the researchers, women tend to be more affected by social interactions, both positively and negatively.
Women also sometimes tend to carry the pressures of others and may therefore experience more complex relationships. In addition, it was found that people in poorer health tended to report more Hasslers.
A possible explanation is that people with health problems may be more dependent on others, which may create complex and sometimes tense relationships.
People who experienced a difficult childhood were also found to be more vulnerable to such relationships, apparently due to higher sensitivity to stress and conflict situations.
Who are those people who make life difficult
An interesting finding in the study is that the people who make life difficult are not necessarily strangers. In many cases, they are דווקא family members. Parents and children were often found to be a source of stress more than spouses.
In non family relationships, coworkers, roommates and sometimes neighbors were found to be common sources of stress.
The reason is relatively simple. These are people whom it is not always possible to avoid.
How to protect your health
The simplest solution is to distance yourself from people who bring stress into your life. But in reality, this is not always possible.
Sometimes these are family members or people we must meet במסגרת העבודה. In such cases, experts recommend several steps that can reduce the negative impact.
First, it is important to set clear boundaries. Limiting the time spent with a stressful person can significantly reduce stress levels.
Second, in cases of particularly complex relationships, psychological therapy or couples counseling may help improve the dynamics.
Another way is to invest more in positive relationships. Supportive social connections can act as a kind of buffer that reduces the impact of stress.
Do not give up on social connections
Despite the findings, the researchers emphasize that it is very important to maintain social connections. Loneliness and social isolation are currently considered among the most significant risk factors for health.
According to data from the World Health Organization, loneliness is associated with about 871 thousand deaths per year worldwide.
Therefore, the main message of the researchers is not to avoid social relationships but to choose them wisely. Healthy and supportive relationships are one of the most important factors for physical and mental health throughout life.