A study published in the Journal of Health Psychology has found that conflicts with fathers and friends during adolescence are linked to accelerated biological aging by the age of thirty. Researchers from the University of Virginia followed the lives of 123 young people over 17 years — from about age 13 into adulthood.

The connection was especially pronounced between ongoing arguments and misunderstandings with fathers in late adolescence and behaviors marked by hostility toward friends in the participants’ twenties. These behavioral patterns were found to predict deterioration in multiple health markers — from cholesterol and blood sugar levels to inflammation and blood pressure.

The link was the same for both males and females, the authors note.

The researchers warn that if an adolescent is constantly in a state of hostility or strained relationships with close ones, this should be viewed not just as a social issue but as an important health signal — as these relationships can influence the body years later.

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