Having “hasslers” in your network linked to faster aging and poorer health

By Tarun Sai LomteReviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.Feb 25 2026

Having even one “hassler” in your social network may be linked to faster biological aging and poorer mental health, highlighting how everyday social strain could shape long-term health trajectories.

Study: Negative social ties as emerging risk factors for accelerated aging, inflammation, and multimorbidity. Image Credit: Nicoleta Ionescu / Shutterstock

In a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers investigated whether negative social relationships are associated with accelerated biological aging.

Biological Aging, Chronic Stress, and Social Strain

Aging is a biological process in which unrepaired molecular damage accumulates gradually, leading to a progressive decline in physiological function and increased disease susceptibility. Rates of biological aging differ substantially across individuals due to genetic predisposition as well as social and environmental factors. Chronic stress is an established driver of biological aging.

Although social relationships are often viewed as sources of support, they may also function as chronic stressors by increasing allostatic load through repeated stress activation. Growing evidence suggests that negative social ties, defined as relationships characterized by strain, excessive burden, or hostility, may have lasting consequences for health. However, such relationships may both influence health and be shaped by existing health or social circumstances.

Population-Based Study and Epigenetic Aging Measures

Researchers analyzed data from the Person-to-Person Health Interview Study conducted in Indiana, which included biomarkers and detailed measures of social interactions within personal networks. The sample was state-representative and age-heterogeneous.

Participants ranged in age from 18 to 103 years, enabling assessment of epigenetic aging across the life course. Epigenetic aging measures included GrimAge2 and DunedinPACE epigenetic clocks, which capture biological age relative to chronological age and the pace of biological aging, respectively. Both measures showed substantial variation across chronological age groups, including younger individuals exhibiting elevated epigenetic age acceleration relative to peers.

Older individuals, on average, showed faster rates of aging. “Hasslers” were defined as network members who often created problems, made life difficult, or caused stress. Among the 2,685 participants, nearly 29 percent reported at least one hassler in their social network.

Demographic and Health Predictors of Hasslers

The researchers examined demographic, psychosocial, occupational, and health predictors of exposure to negative ties. Females were significantly less likely than males to report having zero hasslers. Although occupational differences were not statistically significant, unemployed participants tended to report more hasslers than employed individuals.

Education, race, age, lifetime multimorbidity, health insurance status, and marital status were not significantly associated with hassler presence. Daily smokers and individuals reporting poorer overall health were more likely to report hasslers, suggesting possible bidirectional relationships between health status and social strain.

Psychosocial Network Characteristics and Hassler Exposure

Psychosocial factors were important predictors. Individuals with more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were more likely to report hasslers. A larger network size was associated with a higher expected number of hasslers and a lower probability of having none.

Participants who felt others relied heavily on them reported more hasslers, whereas those who perceived themselves as important to others were less likely to report hasslers. Network analyses showed that hasslers often occupied more peripheral positions within personal networks and were typically weaker or less multifaceted (“multiplex”) ties.

Hasslers and Accelerated Epigenetic Aging

Each additional hassler was associated with approximately 9 months higher biological age and a 1.5% faster rate of aging. Associations differed by relationship category.

Among spouse or partner relationships, 8.5 percent and 8.7 percent, respectively, were categorized as hasslers. Within kin relationships, children and parents had the highest proportions of hasslers, whereas grandchildren and grandparents had the lowest. Roommates and coworkers showed higher proportions, while friends, healthcare providers, and church members showed lower proportions.

Kin hasslers were associated with a faster pace of aging, whereas spouse hasslers showed no significant association. The presence of any kin hassler was associated with 1.100 additional years of biological aging. The presence of any non-kin hassler was associated with 0.833 additional years of biological aging.

Broader Health Associations Beyond Epigenetic Clocks

The researchers also examined whether hasslers were associated with other health outcomes beyond epigenetic aging, including inflammation markers and multimorbidity patterns.

Mental health outcomes showed the strongest associations. Each additional hassler was associated with a 0.25 standard deviation (SD) increase in anxiety severity, a 0.28 SD increase in depression severity, and a 0.22 SD decline in overall mental health. Associations with adiposity and physical health outcomes were more modest but statistically significant. Each additional hassler was associated with higher body mass index, poorer general and physical health, and a higher waist-to-hip ratio.

Implications for Stress, Aging, and Relationship Interventions

Overall, negative social relationships were associated with greater epigenetic age acceleration and may operate as chronic stressors linked to epigenetic and physiological risk profiles. Respondents with more hasslers exhibited greater biological aging and faster aging pace.

Because the study was observational and cross-sectional, causality cannot be established. Reverse causation or shared vulnerabilities may partly explain the associations. Nonetheless, interventions aimed at reducing relationship strain could support healthier aging and reduce the burden of age-related disease, although experimental and longitudinal evidence is needed.