Objective: The aim of this literature review is to examine factors leading to the recovery of child sexual abuse survivors.
Method: This paper provides a definition of resilience and presents the individual and environmental protective factors. A methodological examination of the studies is carried through.
Results: Researchers have documented that 20% to 44% of adult who were sexually abused during their childhood show no apparent signs of negative outcome. However, very few studies as been interested in resilient women and their protective mechanisms. Recent research on protective factors reveal that searching for support, disclosing the abuse and giving a meaning to the abuse are all adaptative cognitive strategies. Furthermore, the perception of benefits and having an external attributional style are both related to less psychological distress. Social support, in general and after the revelation, also appears as a determinant of resilience. However, avoidance, even if victims find it very useful, proves to be a non-adaptative strategy, which may lead to be a catalyst to victims' symptomatology. Definitional problems and the lack of longitudinal studies limit the conclusions that can be drawn.
Conclusion: The rare studies involving resilient victims show that social support as well as certain cognitive coping strategies may lead to recovery. However the extent of their contribution remains unknown.