NCJ Number
241387
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 36 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2012 Pages: 676-679
Date Published
September 2012
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relationships between five types of childhood trauma and employment status later in life.
Abstract
Findings from this study on childhood trauma and employment status later in life include the following: the presence of sexual abuse in childhood was associated with a larger number of full-time jobs in adulthood as well as a greater likelihood of being fired; witnessing violence in childhood was also associated with a greater likelihood of being fired; the other types of childhood trauma, physical neglect, emotional abuse, and physical abuse, did not show any relationships with the employment variables; and the existence of childhood trauma did not affect the total percentage of time employed in adulthood. This study examined the relationship between five types of childhood trauma - emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, physical neglect, and witnessing violence - on employment status later in life. Data for the study were obtained from a sample of adults (n=328) age 18 and over who were seeking non-emergency medical care and who were asked to complete a survey about experiences with childhood trauma and past employment histories. Analysis of the findings suggests that exposure to trauma in childhood has varying and differential effects on employment status later in life, and that these effects differ depending on the type of trauma suffered and the individual employment variable that is being studied. Study limitations are discussed. Table and references