Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/27746
The prevalence of child sexual abuse in community and student samples: A meta-analysis
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Background: Studies conducted internationally confirm that child sexual abuse is a much more widespread problem than previously thought, with even the lowest prevalence rates including a large number of victims that need to be taken into account. Objective: To carry out a meta-analysis of the prevalence of child sexual abuse in order to establish an overall international figure. Methods: Studies were retrieved from various electronic databases. The measure of interest was the prevalence of abuse reported in each article, these values being combined via a random effects model. A detailed analysis was conducted of the effects of various moderator variables. Results: Sixty-five articles covering 22 countries were included. The analysis showed that 7.9% of men (7.4% without outliers) and 19.7% of women (19.2% without outliers) had suffered some form of sexual abuse prior to the age of eighteen. Conclusions: The results of the present meta-analysis indicate that child sexual abuse is a serious problem in the countries analysed.
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PEREDA BELTRAN, Noemí, et al. The prevalence of child sexual abuse in community and student samples: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review. 2009. Vol. 29, num. 4, pags. 328-338. ISSN 0272-7358. [consulted: 11 of June of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/27746