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IICSA published its final Report in October 2022. This website was last updated in January 2023.

IICSA Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

The impacts of child sexual abuse: A rapid evidence assessment

Limitations of the evidence base

Before considering the research findings from this REA, it is important to note that, in practice, it is very challenging to determine clearly whether an outcome has actually been caused by CSA, either directly or indirectly, or whether instead it is linked to it in some other way. There are also limitations concerning the way in which some of the current evidence was generated, which means that some study findings cannot be confidently generalised to the wider victim and survivor population. As a result, much of the evidence reviewed in this REA can only indicate a possible link or association between CSA and a specific life outcome or medical condition; it cannot indicate that CSA caused the outcome under consideration.

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