Référence
Lateef, R., Collin-Vézina, D., Alaggia, R., & MacIntosh, H. (2025). A scoping review of shame among child sexual abuse survivors across the lifespan: Findings and trends over three decades (1994–2024) and clinical implications. Traumatology. Advance online publication.
Résumé
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a longstanding international problem that affects children from all sociodemographic backgrounds. One of the common consequences of CSA is shame, a complex emotion that often develops from abusive relationships and leads individuals to feel flawed and unworthy of belonging and acceptance. To better understand the role of shame in the lives of CSA survivors across the lifespan, this scoping review used the Arksey and O’Malley (2005) five-stage framework to examine peer-reviewed research literature published over the past 30 years (1994–2024) on shame among child, adolescent, and adult CSA survivors. Specifically, the review addressed the following questions: (a) What methodological approaches have been used to study shame among CSA survivors over the past 30 years? (b) Has the inclusion of understudied groups shifted over time? (c) What role does shame play in the lives of CSA survivors across the life course? A total of 472 studies were selected for analysis in accordance with the search terms, and 101 articles were selected for inclusion. The results indicate that shame is a common outcome of CSA, increases the risk of other negative outcomes, is a deterrent to disclosures, and is a critical aspect of the recovery process for CSA survivors across the lifespan. The findings also suggest that survivor characteristics may influence how shame is experienced. Associated knowledge gaps in need of further exploration and the clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
