The Long-Term Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Incomes and Labour Force Status. ESRI Research Bulletin 2014/3/1

Barrett, Alan and Kamiya, Yumiko and O’Sullivan, Vincent (2014) The Long-Term Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Incomes and Labour Force Status. ESRI Research Bulletin 2014/3/1. UNSPECIFIED.

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Abstract

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has been the subject of increasing attention in recent years. Reports such as Ryan (2009) and Murphy (2009) looked at abuse by Catholic clergy. However, in an earlier report McGee et al. (2002) had shown that abusers were often family members. Recent news stories from the UK have served as a reminder that CSA is not just an Irish issue. Studies on the impact of CSA have tended to be undertaken by researchers in the fields of health and psychology. These studies have shown links between CSA and psychological disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Very few studies have been undertaken to look at the economic impact on individuals who have experienced CSA. In this Research Bulletin, we report on a study in which we examined whether people who experienced CSA suffered long-term economic consequences in terms of lower attachment to the labour market and/or lower incomes. Given the paucity of research on this question, this study is important in both the Irish and international contexts.

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