Teenage rows linked to ageing

Teenagers who regularly fall out with friends age faster than their peers, according to a 15-year study.

scientists at the University of Virginia monitored 127 volunteers from the age of 13, asking how they got on with friends and others.

When the volunteers turned 28 they were given blood tests, which found that those who’d experienced the worst social conflict had the highest level of interleukin 6, a protein associated with cancer, arthritis and other problems associated with ageing.

according to the study in Development and Psychopathology, as neither social or economic status seemed to affect levels of interleukin 6, the results underline the need for children to learn how to resolve conflict.