Friday, 31 Oct 2025
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA
logo logo
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
  • 🔥
  • Trump
  • VIDEO
  • House
  • White
  • ScienceAlert
  • Trumps
  • Watch
  • man
  • Health
  • Season
Font ResizerAa
American FocusAmerican Focus
Search
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
Follow US
© 2024 americanfocus.online – All Rights Reserved.
American Focus > Blog > Tech and Science > Negative social ties, like frenemies, could be ageing you
Tech and Science

Negative social ties, like frenemies, could be ageing you

Last updated: July 26, 2025 1:00 am
Share
Negative social ties, like frenemies, could be ageing you
SHARE

The company we keep could affect our health

Rob Wilkinson/Alamy

Having negative influences in our lives can do more harm than we realize. These individuals may not only bring us down emotionally but could also be accelerating the aging process in our bodies.

Studies have shown that our social connections play a crucial role in determining our lifespan. Research suggests that social isolation can impact mortality rates as significantly as factors like obesity and lack of physical activity.

Furthermore, the quality of our relationships is just as important as the quantity. A study conducted at the University of Utah revealed that ambivalent relationships, known as “frenemies”, can hasten the shortening of telomeres, which are protective caps on chromosomes. This natural process of telomere shortening is associated with age-related diseases such as heart conditions.

Byungkyu Lee and his team at New York University delved into a more precise measure of aging by examining the effects of negative social ties on DNA methylation marks. These marks are indicative of epigenetic changes, where external factors can influence gene activity. Lee explains, “As we age, the pattern of these marks shifts predictably.”

In their study, 2232 participants provided saliva samples for epigenetic analysis and shared details about their relationships with key individuals in their social circle. Those who were identified as causing occasional or frequent issues were labeled as “hasslers”. Surprisingly, over half of adults reported having at least one hassler in their closest contacts.

The presence of hasslers was found to have a significant impact on epigenetic markers, with each hassler associated with a 0.5% acceleration in biological aging. This translates to individuals being biologically 2.5 months older, on average, than their chronological age due to negative social ties.

See also  FBI Chief Kash Patel Breaks Ties with Hate Group Southern Poverty Law Center -- Group Labeled TPUSA a Hate Group Weeks Before Charlie Kirk's Assassination | The Gateway Pundit | by Jim Há´Źft

Lee’s team observed higher levels of inflammatory stress markers in individuals with negative relationships, which could potentially weaken the immune system. The biological effects of having a high number of hasslers were comparable to the difference between non-smokers and smokers.

Interestingly, the study found that hasslers who also provided some form of social support had a more detrimental impact. Lee explains, “The same person who comforts you today might criticize you tomorrow, causing more physiological harm than straightforwardly toxic relationships.”

Commenting on the study, Alex Haslam from the University of Queensland highlighted the significance of social relationships on health. He emphasized that a sense of belonging to a group may have a greater influence on aging than individual relationships within that group.

TAGGED:ageingfrenemiesnegativeSocialTies
Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner Didn’t Send Justin the Dress Code Memo Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner Didn’t Send Justin the Dress Code Memo
Next Article Sidoti Upgrades AAON (AAON) to Buy Despite Investor Day Selloff Sidoti Upgrades AAON (AAON) to Buy Despite Investor Day Selloff
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Posts

How to take climate change out of the culture wars

The division over household appliances and climate change is a clear indication of the deepening…

November 26, 2024

Babesiosis, a Tick-Borne Disease That Resembles Malaria, Is on the Rise

Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases on the Rise in the Southern Mid-Atlantic Region Ellen Stromdahl, an…

May 13, 2025

7 Steps Toward a Zero-Waste Lifestyle

Living a zero-waste lifestyle is not only beneficial for the environment but also for our…

April 30, 2025

Capitalism, Corruption, and the Ugly Pig

Ruchir Sharma’s book, "What Went Wrong with Capitalism?" delves deep into the issues plaguing the…

October 7, 2024

What To Know Before You Start Your Yoga Clothing Line

When starting a yoga clothing line, consider incorporating sustainable practices into your production process. This…

May 13, 2025

You Might Also Like

The Interplanetary Race to Study Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS
Tech and Science

The Interplanetary Race to Study Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

October 31, 2025
SOC teams face 51-second breach reality—Manual response times are officially dead
Tech and Science

SOC teams face 51-second breach reality—Manual response times are officially dead

October 31, 2025
The New Scientist Book Club’s verdict on Our Brains, Our Selves: A mix of praise and misgivings
Tech and Science

The New Scientist Book Club’s verdict on Our Brains, Our Selves: A mix of praise and misgivings

October 31, 2025
Tech Advisor December 2025 Digital Magazine
Tech and Science

Tech Advisor December 2025 Digital Magazine

October 31, 2025
logo logo
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


Explore global affairs, political insights, and linguistic origins. Stay informed with our comprehensive coverage of world news, politics, and Lifestyle.

Top Categories
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Sports
  • Tech and Science
Usefull Links
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA

© 2024 americanfocus.online –  All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?