NCJ Number
155563
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 19 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1995) Pages: 715- 728
Date Published
1995
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The relationship between child sexual abuse and adult psychological adjustment was examined through meta-analyses of 20 studies involving 23 samples.
Abstract
Results indicated statistically significant relationships between the experience of child sexual abuse and subsequent difficulties in psychological adjustment as measured by psychological symptoms, depression, and self- esteem. Across studies, significant heterogeneity occurred in a variety of participants, research designs, and assessment methods. Some of the variance in effect size was partially accounted for by certain identified study characteristics, most notably with respect to the source of the sample. Student samples consistently generated smaller and more homogeneous effect size estimates than did community or clinical samples. This finding indicated that abused persons in student samples may experience fewer impairments in psychological adjustment compared to abused persons in community or clinical samples. Tables, appended methodological information, and 25 references