The impact lingers well beyond childhood: Child sexual abuse, trauma symptoms, and income for adult survivors

Abstract

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a traumatic experience, and this kind of trauma has far-reaching effects. While it is known that CSA affects mental, emotional, and physical well-being, its relationship to income is still being explored. Objective: The current study examined the relationships between child sexual abuse, trauma symptoms, education, and income levels in adult survivors of CSA (n = 260). The participants in this study were gathered anonymously online by posting links to the study on adult survivor of CSA support group websites. While the participants’ incomes ranged from about $20,000 to over $100,000, the mean household income was between $40,000 and $59,000. There were no significant differences in income by gender or ethnicity. Regressions suggest that while education and marital status were of course significantly related to income, both frequency and severity of abuse were also significantly connected with income (all p's <0.05). Furthermore, trauma symptoms of anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and dissociation were significantly linked with income (all p's <0.05). Path analysis showed that the effects of trauma on income were mediated through education levels. However, trauma symptoms still negatively affected income.