Prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse: A Systematic Review

Analia Veronica Losada; Alejandra Alejandra Gonzalez Monzon; Deise Leite Bittencourt Friedrich; Mário Graça da Costa; Karine Anusca Martins; Edyleine Bellini Peroni; Mehran Misaghi

doi:10.18294/pm.2026.6412

Analia Veronica Losada Universidad de Flores https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0488-4651
Alejandra Gonzalez Monzon Universidad de Flores https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9115-1272
Deise Leite Bittencourt Friedrich Universidad de Flores https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7612-2667
Mário Graça da Costa Universidad de Flores https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6667-9576
Karine Anusca Martins Universidad de Flores https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4992-4522
Edyleine Bellini Peroni Universidad de Flores https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2169-8551
Mehran Misaghi Universidad de Flores https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4927-2659

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18294/pm.2026.6412

Keywords: child sexual abuse, prevalence, systematic review, consequences, risk factors

Abstract

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) constitutes a global public health concern, with consequences extending throughout adult life. The present systematic review aimed to describe the prevalence, characteristics, and consequences of CSA based on recent scientific literature. A search was conducted in the Scopus database, in Spanish and English, including publications from the period 2021–2026 within the field of Psychology. After the screening process, 13 empirical studies were included, distributed across eight countries and five geographic regions. Prevalence rates ranged from 0.4% to 61.2%, with values in the general adult population concentrated between 11% and 22%. The percentages indicated coincide with previous studies, showing no decreases or improvements in this regard. The inclusion of online sexual abuse modalities substantially modified traditional estimates. Female prevalence was consistently higher, with exceptions in specific institutional contexts. The most frequently reported consequences were post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, interpersonal dysfunction, and an increased risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. Social support emerged as the main protective factor.