Teenagers with aggressive tendencies may experience faster ageing and face physical health issues later in life, according to new research.
A study discovered that aggressive behaviour in early teens is linked to faster biological ageing and even a higher body mass index (BMI) by the age of 30.
The research, conducted by the University of Virginia and published in the journal Health Psychology, investigated 121 middle school students (46 male and 75 female) from suburban and urban communities in the southeastern United States.
The participants were studied from age 13 to adulthood, through reports from their parents, their peers and themselves on their aggressive behaviour. Once the participants reached the age of 30, they were assessed on their biological ageing through factors like their blood pressure, inflammation, glucose, cholesterol and immune function.
Lead author Joseph Allen said: “Both methods showed that higher levels of aggression in early adolescence predicted a more advanced biological age by 30, even after accounting for gender, family income, serious childhood illness and adolescent body shape.”
Mr Allen added: “Accelerated ageing has been linked to an increased risk for future coronary artery disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammation and even early death.”
Researchers also found that men and people from lower-income families showed signs of faster biological ageing. Further analysis suggested these patterns were tied to relationship difficulties. Boys tended to experience more conflict with their fathers, while teens from lower-income families were more likely to show aggressive behaviour toward friends.
Professor of psychology and child health, Kevin Browne from Nottingham University, told The Independent: "The findings from this study are not surprising as research has already shown that adverse childhood experiences such as growing up in poverty and/or in a violent family both increases the chances of adolescent aggression, delinquency and anti-social behaviour and has significant negative consequences for mental and physical health later in life."
However, early signs of aggression alone did not directly predict fast ageing, unless it led to ongoing relationship problems later on in life, Mr Allen said. “We also can’t yet say whether it’s aggressive actions, hostile attitudes or a mix of both that makes the difference,” he added.
Teens who showed higher levels of aggression were more likely to argue with parents and mistreat friends as they grew older. Those continued relationship struggles, not early aggression by itself, were what ultimately predicted accelerated ageing.
“Adolescents are often mocked for treating their relationships as matters of life and death,” Mr Allen added. “These findings suggest that, in some ways, they are really on to something, which is that relationships beginning in adolescence, and especially patterns of conflict and aggression that begin in adolescence, do seem to have long-term fundamental physical health implications.”
The research suggests early relationship problems may serve as warning signs for long-term health risks and highlight the importance of helping teenagers develop healthier relationships early in life to benefit both mental and physical health well into adulthood.
