Document details

A strengths-based approach to resilience in child sexual abuse : a meta-analysis

Author(s): Antunes, Carla ; Camilo, Cláudia ; Ferreira, Célia ; Cunha, Cristiana ; Magalhães, Eunice

Date: 2026

Persistent ID: https://hdl.handle.net/10437/16132

Origin: ReCiL - Repositório Científico Lusófona

Subject(s): PSYCHOLOGY; CHILD ABUSE; RESILIENCE; PSICOLOGIA; ABUSO SEXUAL DE CRIANÇAS; RESILIÊNCIA; SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; ULHT/HEI-Lab - Artigos de Revistas Internacionais com Arbitragem Científica


Description

This meta-analysis aims to uncover which protective factors reveal the greatest effect sizes on resilience among CSA survivors (i.e., symptoms, well-being, and competence) based on the Resilience Portfolio Model. This perspective shifts the focus from deficit-based models to a strengths-based approach that focuses on CSA survivors' resources and assets. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a total of 50 reports were included in the meta-analysis, involving 12,345 participants (children and adults) from different contexts (community, clinical, and forensic) and 335 effect sizes. Our findings revealed that while meaning-making strengths (e.g., spirituality) were associated with both well-being and symptoms, regulatory strengths (e.g., emotional regulation, self-control) and supportive relationships (e.g., caregiver emotional support) were associated with symptoms but not with well-being, and environmental strengths (e.g., extracurricular activities) were associated with well-being but not with symptoms. Coping was not significantly associated with symptoms or well-being. Clinical interventions based on narrative, mindfulness, and trauma-focused therapy could be particularly useful for fostering psychological health in CSA victims.

Document Type Review
Language English
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