Long-term physical health consequences of childhood sexual abuse: a meta-analytic review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Psychology
• Medical Research

Background:

• Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a significant adverse childhood experience with potential long-term health implications.
• Understanding the physical health sequelae of CSA is crucial for effective intervention and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature on the long-term physical health consequences of childhood sexual abuse (CSA).
• To synthesize findings across multiple health outcomes and identify potential moderators of these effects.

Main Methods:

• Conducted comprehensive literature searches to identify relevant studies.
• Included 31 studies that compared individuals with and without a history of CSA.
• Assessed six key health outcomes: general health, gastrointestinal health, gynecologic/reproductive health, pain, cardiopulmonary symptoms, and obesity.

Main Results:

• A history of CSA was associated with small to moderate differences across nearly all assessed health outcomes.
• Individuals with a history of CSA reported a higher prevalence of complaints for general health, GI health, gynecologic/reproductive health, pain, cardiopulmonary symptoms, and obesity.
• Exploratory analyses indicated potential trends in moderating variables related to study design and methodology.

Conclusions:

• Childhood sexual abuse has demonstrable long-term physical health consequences.
• Findings underscore the importance of addressing CSA in healthcare settings.
• Identifying moderators is essential for refining future research designs and improving clinical practice.