Child sexual abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder: Implications for social work practice

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a pervasive global issue impacting children worldwide, with alarming statistics highlighting its prevalence. In England and Wales alone, a staggering 103,055 cases of CSA were recorded in the year ending 2022, marking a concerning 15% increase from figures reported in 2021. Studies indicate that approximately one in ten children under the age of 16 in the UK endure CSA, with girls experiencing it at a higher rate (1 in 6) than boys (1 in 20). The repercussions of CSA extend far beyond childhood, with victims more likely to grapple with mental health challenges in adulthood. Research suggests that about two-thirds of CSA victims experience mental or emotional issues as a result, underscoring the profound and lasting impact of such trauma. Specifically, there is a noted association between CSA and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), with repeated abuse heightening the likelihood of developing CPTSD. Boumpa et al. (2022) conducted a recent systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at further elucidating the correlation between CSA and lifetime psychiatric diagnoses, shedding light on this critical area of study. This commentary endeavours to conduct a critical appraisal of the methodologies employed in the review conducted by Boumpa et al. (2022) and to extend the discussion of the findings within the realm of social work practice.