Childhood Sexual Abuse and Rates of Loneliness in Adulthood

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Loneliness is recognized as a significant public health issue linked to various mental and physical health outcomes.
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Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with numerous adverse mental health conditions, including depression and PTSD.
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Previous studies on CSA and loneliness have limitations, including small sample sizes and non-generalizable designs.
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This study utilized data from the 2023-2024 BRFSS to explore the relationship between CSA and adult loneliness frequency.
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The analysis accounted for demographic factors and used a composite measure of CSA to assess its impact on loneliness.

Jama Network Open

by Oluwasegun Akinyemi, Mojisola Fasokun, Fadeke Ogunyankin, Delia Singleton, Ayomide Ogunsakin, Olububechukwu Eze, Samar Khalil, Kaelyn Gordon, Miriam Michael, Kakra Hughes, Temitope Ogundare
July 8, 2026

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