(see also Rind et.al. 1998)
To evaluate the implications and conclusions of literature reviews (e.g., J. H. Beitchman et al, 1991) on psychological correlates of child sexual abuse (CSA) that have relied on studies using clinical and legal samples, the authors conducted a literature review/meta-analysis of 7 studies using national probability samples. Contrary to previous conclusions, it was found that, in the general population, CSA is not associated with pervasive harm, and that harm, when it occurs, is not typically intense. CSA experiences for males and females are not equivalent; a substantially lower proportion of males reported negative effects. The authors also found that conclusions about a causal link between CSA and later psychological maladjustment in the general population cannot be made safely because of the reliable presence of confounding variables.