The Impact of Toxic Relationships on Your Health
It’s common knowledge that dealing with difficult people can be stressful. Whether it’s a coworker who thrives on drama, a parent who constantly guilt-trips you, or a sibling who makes every family gathering tense, these relationships can take a toll on your mental and emotional well-being. However, a recent study published in PNAS in February 2026 suggests that the effects of toxic relationships go even deeper, impacting your physical health at a molecular level.
Researchers led by Byungkyu Lee from NYU and Brea L. Perry from Indiana University conducted a study involving over 2,300 adults in Indiana, spanning a wide age range. They collected saliva samples and used advanced “epigenetic clocks” to measure biological aging by examining chemical modifications on DNA. By analyzing each participant’s social network in detail, they were able to determine how stress from relationships affects the aging process.
The results of the study were significant. For each additional stressful person in a subject’s social network (referred to as a “hassler”), there was a 1.5 percent increase in the rate of biological aging per year. This meant that individuals with more hasslers appeared to be biologically older by about 9 months compared to their peers of the same age. To put it into perspective, the impact of a hassler was equivalent to 13-17 percent of the aging acceleration caused by smoking, a well-known contributor to aging.
Besides affecting epigenetics, toxic relationships also had other negative effects on health. Participants with more hasslers reported higher levels of depression and anxiety, poorer self-rated health, higher BMI, increased waist-to-hip ratios, and elevated inflammation scores. The fact that the number of hasslers did not influence adult height, a stable trait unaffected by social stress, further validated the study’s findings.
The Influence of Different Types of Toxic Relationships
One of the most interesting findings of the study was the impact of different types of hasslers on biological aging. Family members who caused stress were found to have the greatest effect on accelerated aging. Whether it was a parent, sibling, or child, these relationships were strongly linked to faster aging rates and increased biological age. The researchers attributed this to the inescapable nature of family ties, which often come with deep emotional obligations.
Non-family hasslers, such as coworkers or acquaintances, also contributed to accelerated aging, although to a lesser extent. Even these peripheral relationships left a noticeable biological mark, highlighting the significance of all types of toxic interactions.
Surprisingly, spousal hasslers did not show a significant association with accelerated aging, despite years of research emphasizing marital conflict’s impact on health. The authors suggested that the dual nature of marriage, combining both positive and negative aspects, may act as a buffer against the negative effects of a stressful spouse.
Implications for Health and Well-Being
While loneliness and social isolation have been recognized as health risks, this study sheds light on the harmful effects of toxic relationships. It’s not just the absence of connections that can harm us, but the presence of negative ones as well. Having a large social network is not a guarantee of good health if it includes individuals who consistently cause stress.
The study also revealed a pattern of inequality, with certain groups being more likely to have hasslers in their lives. Women, daily smokers, individuals with poor health, and those who experienced childhood adversity were all more prone to toxic relationships, creating a cycle of social disadvantage and health decline.
So, what can you do with this knowledge? It’s important to assess the relationships in your life and identify which ones are sources of chronic stress. Setting boundaries, especially with family members, can help manage toxic interactions. The study also suggests that relationships with a mix of conflict and support, like marriage, may not have the same detrimental effects on health.
This research underscores the role of social connections in shaping our biology and emphasizes the importance of addressing negative aspects of our social networks to promote healthy aging. By recognizing and managing toxic relationships, we can improve our overall well-being and quality of life.