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Loneliness mediates the relationship between childhood trauma and adult psychopathology: evidence from the adult psychiatric morbidity survey

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Abstract

Childhood abuse (CA) has been found to be related to the development of a variety of psychiatric disorders in adulthood. Although CA is also associated with adult loneliness, few studies have investigated the role of loneliness as a mediator in the relationship between CA and adult psychopathology. Using data from a large, general population sample a mediation model was proposed and tested. Controlling for a range of background variables, the results from a series of regression analyses found that loneliness mediated the association between CA and six adult psychiatric disorders. The findings of this study highlight the importance of loneliness to the development of psychopathology. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

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  1. School of Psychology, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, University of Ulster at Magee, Londonderry, BT48 7JL, Northern Ireland

    Mark Shevlin, Eoin McElroy & Jamie Murphy

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  1. Mark Shevlin
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Correspondence to Mark Shevlin.

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Shevlin, M., McElroy, E. & Murphy, J. Loneliness mediates the relationship between childhood trauma and adult psychopathology: evidence from the adult psychiatric morbidity survey. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 50, 591–601 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-014-0951-8

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