Childhood Sexual Abuse and Later-Life Economic Consequences

Alan Barrett and Yumiko Kamiya ()
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Yumiko Kamiya: Trinity College Dublin

No 6332, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: The impact of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on later-life health outcomes has been studied extensively and links with depression, anxiety and self-harm have been established. However, there has been relatively little research undertaken on the possible impact of CSA on later-life economic outcomes. Here, we explore whether older men who report having experienced CSA have weaker labour force attachment and lower incomes compared to other men. We use data from the first wave of the new Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) which is a nationally-representative survey of people aged 50 and over. We find that male victims of CSA are almost four times more likely to be out of the labour force due to sickness and disability. They also spent a higher proportion of their potential working lives out of the labour force for these reasons and have lower incomes. These effects remain even when we control for mental health difficulties and negative health behaviors. Among the policy implications are the need to be more aware of the complex effects of CSA when designing labour market activation strategies such as training for the unemployed. The results are also relevant in the legal context where compensation awards are determined.

Keywords: later-life economic outcomes; childhood sexual abuse (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I18 J12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 26 pages
Date: 2012-01
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Published - revised version published in: Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 2014, 53, 10-16, with Vincent O'Sullivan added as third author

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Journal Article: Childhood sexual abuse and later-life economic consequences (2014)
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