A review of conceptual models explaining the effects of child sexual abuse

Based on clinical experience and empirical literature demonstrating that child sexual abuse (CSA) often results in initial and long-term adverse outcomes, researchers have explored why such problems occur. Specifically, starting in the mid 1980s and continuing into the 1990s, several authors proposed conceptual models to explain the negative effects of CSA. Such models have been based on diverse theoretical premises. The purpose of the present article is to provide a general summary review of various conceptual models. Following the review, the current state of the literature on this topic is discussed, as are suggested future directions for research.