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Cited by 219Child Abuse and TraumaMilitary, Security, and Education StudiesChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Child sexual abuse in the etiology of depression: a systematic review of reviews

Open access
Maniglio, Roberto·2010·Depression and Anxiety
DOI 10.1002/da.20687
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite a large amount of research, there is considerable controversy about the role that child sexual abuse plays in the etiology of depression. To prevent interpretative difficulties, mistaken beliefs, or confusion among professionals who turn to this literature for guidance, this article addresses the best available scientific evidence on the topic, by providing a systematic review of the several reviews that have investigated the literature on the issue. METHODS: Seven databases were searched, supplemented with hand search of reference lists from retrieved papers. The author and a psychiatrist independently evaluated the eligibility of all studies identified, abstracted data, and assessed study quality. Disagreements were resolved by consensus. RESULTS: Four reviews, including about 60,000 subjects from 160 studies and having no limitations that could invalidate their results, were analyzed. There is evidence that child sexual abuse is a significant, although general and nonspecific, risk factor for depression. The relationship ranges from small-to-medium in magnitude and is moderated by sample source. Additional variables may either act independently to promote depression in people with a history of sexual abuse or interact with such traumatic experience to increase the likelihood of depression in child abuse survivors. CONCLUSIONS: For all victims of abuse, programs should focus not only on treating symptoms, but also on reducing additional risk factors. Depressed adults who seek psychiatric treatment should be enquired about early abuse within admission procedures.

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  • Previous reviews have usually been based on small sample sizes and searched literature that is typically more than a decade old, and lack quantitative synthesis and quality assessment.

    “In addition, these reviews have usually been based on small sample sizes and searched literature that is typically more than a decade old, and lack quantitative synthesis and quality assessment.12–17”

    From Long-term outcomes of childhood sexual abuse: an umbrella review (2019) · cites this paper as [12]

    The paper calls all four included reviews meta-analyses (p. 635), contrary to the claim that they lacked quantitative synthesis. Its Description of Studies says none assessed data quality and validity, supporting that part of the claim, but the cited paper does not establish that the reviews usually had small samples or searched literature more than a decade old. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • Previous syntheses of meta-analytical reviews in the field have mostly considered solely mental health outcomes or a single outcome, such as depression, anxiety disorders, suicide and self-injury, or substance misuse.

    “Previous attempts to synthesise the large number of meta-analytical reviews in the field have mostly considered solely mental health outcomes or a single outcome, such as depression, anxiety disorders, suicide and self-injury, or substance misuse.12–15”

    From Long-term outcomes of childhood sexual abuse: an umbrella review (2019) · cites this paper as [12]

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. [27]27. Centre for Reviews and Dissemination. CRD's Guidance for Undertaking Reviews in Health Care. York: University of York Press; 2008.
  2. [32]32. Stroup DF, Berlin JA, Morton SC, et al. Meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology: a proposal for reporting. J Am Med Assoc 2000;283:2008-2012.
  3. [54]54. Monroe SM, Slavich GM, Georgiades K. The social environ- ment and life stress in depression. In: Gotlib IH, Hammen CL, editors. Handbook of Depression. 2nd ed. New York: Guilford Press; 2008:340-360.

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Authors
Maniglio, R.
Affiliations
University of Salento (IT)
Corresponding author
Maniglio, Roberto
ORCID
Maniglio, Roberto
Venue
Depression and Anxiety
Publisher
Hindawi Limited
Published
2010-03-24
Volume
27
Issue
7
Pages
631-642
ISSN
  • 1091-4269 (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-6394
DOI
10.1002/da.20687
OpenAlex
W2140980892
Semantic Scholar
ef6924f4f52403e29bc9b32a7f1df5deb95db418
Cited by
219
References
81
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 16
FWCI
1.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1.1 (tdm, 1987 d)
Locations
  • Depression and Anxiety (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Military, Security, and Education Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
child sexual abuse, depression, etiology of depression, risk factors, trauma, abuse survivors, comorbid risk factors, psychiatric assessment
MeSH terms
Child, Child Abuse, Sexual, Depression, Humans, Risk Factors, Survivors

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