Healthcare Professionals in the Context of Child and Adolescent Sexual Abuse: A Scoping Review

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7213/psicolargum.44.124.AO15

Abstract

Sexual violence against children and adolescents is a serious public health problem, with consequences that extend to both victims and professionals who work directly in dealing with these cases. In view of this, this study aims to map the literature on the psychological impact experienced by health professionals who deal with child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse, in addition to identifying the coping strategies adopted to minimize these effects. To this end, a scoping review was conducted following the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and the PRISMA-ScR protocol. Observational and interventional studies published in the last ten years, in Portuguese, English and Spanish, were included. The results showed that continuous exposure to traumatic stories can lead to consequences such as compassion fatigue, burnout and vicarious trauma, impacting quality of life and professional performance. In addition, it was found that the existence of institutional support, adequate training, professional supervision and support networks are fundamental factors in reducing the negative effects of working in this context. It is therefore concluded that the implementation of preventive strategies and the strengthening of working conditions are essential for promoting the mental health of the professionals involved, ensuring more humane and effective care for victims.

Keywords: working with victims; health professionals; child and adolescent sexual violence.

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Author Biographies

Maria Gabrielly Bernardino Rocha, Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde

Psychology student at the Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde (FPS), with experience as an intern at the Specialized Center for Multidisciplinary Support (CEAM) in the areas of Recruitment and Selection. She has worked as a monitor in the Legal Psychology Workshop discipline at FPS, as well as in the Laboratory for Observation of Parent-Baby Relationships. Her research interests include topics related to child and adolescent aspects impacted by violence, the mental health of professionals in contexts of violence, and child development. She is currently an intern in the neonatal sector of the Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira.

Joana D' arc Oliveira de Mendonça, Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde

Psychology student at the Pernambuco School of Health (FPS), Psychological Assessment Intern at the Psychological Assessment Laboratory of the Institute of Integral Medicine Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP). Participant of the Aging WG and Hospital Neuropsychology WG of the Young Committee of the Brazilian Society of Neuropsychology (management 24-26), led by the vice president of SBNp Laiss Bertola and Nicolle Zimmermann, respectively. She has an active Scientific Initiation at the Institute of Integral Medicine Prof. Fernando Figueira IMIP. Participant of the Cognitive Neurology and Psychogeriatrics Outpatient Clinic (HC-UFPE). Additionally, she participates in the Center for Studies in Social Cognition (UNIFESP). She serves on the Committee for Relations with Higher Education Institutions (IES) of the Association of Cognitive Therapies of Pernambuco (ATC-PE). He is a student representative at the Center for Internationalization and Academic Mobility at the Pernambuco School of Health. He conducts research in the areas of neuropsychology, mental health, neurobiology of psychiatric disorders, clinical interventions based on cognitive-behavioral therapies, neurology, neuropsychiatry and cross-cutting themes.

Rebeka Rodrigues Martins Pereira Coriolano, Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde

She is a psychologist graduated from the Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde (FPS) and a specialist in Neuropsychology from Faculdade ESUDA. She works as a hospital psychologist at the Instituto de Medicina Integral Professor Fernando Figueira (IMIP), with an emphasis on the Center for Care for Facial Defects (CADEFI) and the Neonatal sector. She is a tutor for the undergraduate Psychology course at FPS, actively contributing to the academic and clinical training of students. She is also a preceptor for the Uniprofessional Residency in Hospital Psychology and for interns completing the Psychology course at the same institution. She has experience in the areas of School Psychology and Social Psychology, working at the Expanded Center for Family Health (NASF) during mandatory curricular internship. He is interested in the following lines of research: craniofacial anomalies, compassion fatigue, hospital mental health, adolescence, anxiety, sexual education, developmental neuropsychology, childhood and adolescent psychopathologies, and psychopharmacology.

Luciana Cristina Amaral Ferreira, Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde

Master's degree in Health Psychology from the Pernambuco School of Health; Specialist in the Impacts of Violence in Schools from FIOCRUZ; Graduated in Psychology from the Pernambuco School of Health in Pernambuco; Preceptor of the Uniprofessional Residency Program and Clinical and Hospital Psychology of the Professor Fernando Figueira Institute of Integral Medicine - IMIP; Supervisor of Psychology interns at the Professor Fernando Figueira Institute of Integral Medicine - IMIP; Member of the Violence Committee of the Professor Fernando Figueira Institute of Integral Medicine - IMIP; Alternate member of the Network to Combat Sexual Violence against Children and Adolescents in Pernambuco; Full professor of the Undergraduate course in Psychology at the Pernambuco School of Health - FPS. Interested in research on the theme of children, adolescents and their families in situations of violence.

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Published

2026-03-30

How to Cite

Bernardino Rocha, M. G., Oliveira de Mendonça, J. D. arc, Martins Pereira Coriolano, R. R., & Amaral Ferreira, L. C. (2026). Healthcare Professionals in the Context of Child and Adolescent Sexual Abuse: A Scoping Review. Psicologia Argumento, 44(124), 1585–1601. https://doi.org/10.7213/psicolargum.44.124.AO15

Issue

Vol. 44 No. 124 (2026): Revista Psicologia Argumento

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