Spending time around emotionally draining individuals may have deeper consequences than just temporary stress. According to insights shared by Dr Thomas Paloschi, negative social interactions could significantly impact biological ageing and overall health.
The longevity specialist referenced findings from a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in February 2026, which explored how harmful social connections influence ageing at the cellular level. The research examined over 2,300 individuals using advanced biological ageing markers and evaluated the presence of “hasslers” — individuals who create stress or emotional strain in one’s daily life.
Results indicated that each additional “hassler” could contribute to nearly nine extra months of biological ageing and accelerate the ageing process by around 1.5 percent. Individuals dealing with multiple such relationships showed even more significant effects, with three stress-inducing connections equating to roughly 2.5 years of additional biological age.
The study also highlighted that these challenging relationships are often difficult to avoid, as they typically include close contacts such as family members, colleagues, or friends. Interestingly, stress caused by family members appeared to have a stronger impact compared to non-family connections, while spouses showed less influence, possibly due to shared emotional support systems.
Dr Thomas Paloschi explained that ongoing interpersonal stress activates the body’s stress-response system, leading to increased cortisol levels, reduced activity of telomerase (an enzyme that helps protect DNA), and heightened inflammation — all of which contribute to faster biological ageing.
Certain groups were found to be more vulnerable to these effects, including women, individuals with difficult early-life experiences, smokers, those in poorer health, and people with high emotional responsibilities toward others.
To counter these effects, experts recommend establishing clear boundaries with stressful individuals, limiting exposure to negative interactions, and building healthier relationships. Regular physical activity, stress management practices such as mindfulness and breathing exercises, and maintaining supportive social connections can also help reduce the biological impact of stress.
While these findings offer valuable insights into the connection between social stress and ageing, individuals are encouraged to seek professional medical advice for personalized health concerns.
