Teen Conflict and the Body’s Clock

Parent and peer relationship patterns across adolescence are examined alongside biomarkers of aging.

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Interpersonal aggression in early adolescence predicts accelerated biological aging by age 30, independent of demographic and health factors.
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The study followed 121 adolescents from age 13 to 30, assessing aggression and biological aging using composite biomarker algorithms.
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Conflicts with fathers during adolescence were linked to faster biological aging, while conflicts with mothers were not significant.
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Punitive behavior toward friends in early adulthood also predicted accelerated aging and higher body mass indices by ages 28 to 29.
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The study highlights that relationship difficulties in adolescence may indicate long-term health risks, though causality cannot be established.

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