Arguments and demanding relatives all pose serious risks to the health of middle-aged people, according to a new study.
Arguing frequently with partners, neighbours or friends may double the risk of dying, according to the Danish study.
And facing excessive demands or worries from partners or children is linked to a 50% to 100% increased risk of dying, researchers found.
The findings come from a study of nearly 10,000 people aged between 36 and 52.
About 1% had frequent arguments with friends or neighbours while 6% tended to argue with their immediate families.
And about 10% said their partner or children placed excess demands on them or caused them serious worries.
The findings are reported in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
Over a ten year period, some 226 men and 196 women died – almost half of them from cancer.
Researcher Dr Rikke Lund, of the University of Copenhagen, suggests that some people could benefit from training in conflict management to curb premature deaths.
He said: "Personality may have a role in how people perceive, generate, and respond to stress, and so may influence an individual’s risk of an early death."
Stressful social relations and mortality: a prospective cohort study. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 9 May 2014; doi 10.1136/jech-2013-203675 [abstract]
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