Theoretical Perspectives on the Health Problems of Adults Who Experienced Childhood Sexual Abuse

With the wide variety of health problems reported by adults who experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA), and no universality for any of them, it is vital that treatment and research be theory-based. The purpose of this article is to review the highlights of major theories, models, and conceptual frameworks found in the literature that explain the relationship of CSA with adult health problems, along with their associated moderating or mediating variables. The theories vary in their scope (macro, middle range, or micro), and in the health problems they explain, from purely psychosocial to both physical and psychosocial problems.