School-Based Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs: A Review of Effectiveness
Abstract
In this systematic and critical review of purely school based child sexual abuse prevention program efficacy studies, 22 studies meeting the inclusion criteria differed by target population, program implementation, and evaluation methodology. Measured outcomes for children included knowledge, skills, emotion, risk perception, touch discrimination, reported response to actual threat or abuse, disclosure, maintenance of gains, and negative effects. Many studies had methodological limitations (e.g., sampling problems, lack of adequate control groups, lack of reliable and valid measures). However, most investigators claimed that their results showed significant impact in primary prevention (increasing all children’s knowledge or awareness and/or abuse prevention skills). There was little evidence of change in disclosure. There was limited follow-up evidence of actual use and effectiveness of prevention skills, and the evidence for maintenance of gains was mixed. Several programs reported some negative effects. Very few studies reported implementation fidelity data, and no study reported cost-effectiveness. Implications for future research, policy, and practice are outlined.
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Some children may experience fear, anxiety, and confusion about touches after a prevention program.
“some children may experience fear, anxiety and confusion about touches after a prevention program”
From Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Opportunities: Parenting, Programs, and the Reduction of Risk (2018) · cites this paper as Topping & Barron, 2009
There is some disagreement as to whether disclosures can or should be a valid indicator of CSAPP success (Finkelhor & Strapko, 1992; MacMillan et al., 1994; Topping & Barron, 2009).
“Although encouraging CSA disclosure to trusted adults is a topic covered in most CSAPPs, there is some disagreement as to whether disclosures can or should be a valid indicator of CSAPP success (Finkelhor & Strapko, 1992; MacMillan et al., 1994; Topping & Barron, 2009).”
From Recall of sexual abuse prevention education at school and home: Associations with sexual abuse experience, disclosure, protective parenting, and knowledge (2022) · cites this paper as Topping & Barron, 2009
Most CSAPP evaluations demonstrate increases in children's factual knowledge about sexual abuse and its prevention (Davis & Gidycz, 2000; Shin et al., 2019; Topping & Barron, 2009; Walsh et al., 2015; Zhang et al., 2021).
“Indeed, most CSAPP evaluations demonstrate increases in children's factual knowledge about sexual abuse and its prevention, however follow-up to test knowledge maintenance is either short (up to 6 months) or absent (Davis & Gidycz, 2000; Shin et al., 2019; Topping & Barron, 2009; Walsh et al., 2015; Zhang et al., 2021).”
From Recall of sexual abuse prevention education at school and home: Associations with sexual abuse experience, disclosure, protective parenting, and knowledge (2022) · cites this paper as Topping & Barron, 2009
Follow-up to test knowledge maintenance in CSAPP evaluations is either short (up to 6 months) or absent (Davis & Gidycz, 2000; Shin et al., 2019; Topping & Barron, 2009; Walsh et al., 2015; Zhang et al., 2021).
“Indeed, most CSAPP evaluations demonstrate increases in children's factual knowledge about sexual abuse and its prevention, however follow-up to test knowledge maintenance is either short (up to 6 months) or absent (Davis & Gidycz, 2000; Shin et al., 2019; Topping & Barron, 2009; Walsh et al., 2015; Zhang et al., 2021).”
From Recall of sexual abuse prevention education at school and home: Associations with sexual abuse experience, disclosure, protective parenting, and knowledge (2022) · cites this paper as Topping & Barron, 2009
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“Only Wurtele (1987), Daro (1994), and Rispens et al. (1997) focused on school-based programs.”
BackgroundChild sexual abuse prevention programs: do they decrease the occurrence of child sexual abuse?
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Nurturing care: Promoting early childhood development
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- Authors
- Topping, K. J., & Barron, I. G.
- Affiliations
- University of Dundee (GB)
- Venue
- Review of Educational Research
- Published
- 2009-03
- Volume
- 79
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 431-463
- ISSN
- 0034-6543 (ISSN-L)
- 1935-1046
- OpenAlex
- W2129957335
- Cited by
- 258
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 4.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Review of Educational Research (publishedVersion)
- Discovery Research Portal (University of Dundee) (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Military, Security, and Education Studies
- Keywords
- child sexual abuse prevention, school-based prevention, program effectiveness, primary prevention, disclosure, risk perception, maintenance of gains, implementation fidelity, cost-effectiveness
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