Abstract
Background: Research on the social and psychological conditions of retired non-commissioned officers (NCOs) remains limited. Therefore, examining burnout, life satisfaction and social exclusion among retired NCOs is critical.
Objective: This study aimed to measure levels of burnout, life satisfaction and social exclusion among retired NCOs in Türkiye and to examine the relationships among these phenomena.
Materials and methods: This study employed a quantitative research design using a descriptive survey model. Data were collected using a questionnaire that included the Burnout Scale, Social Exclusion Scale and Life Satisfaction Scale. The sample consisted of 1084 retired NCOs residing across Türkiye.
Results: Retired NCOs reported above-average levels of burnout and social exclusion, while their life satisfaction was below average. Statistically significant relationships were identified among burnout, social exclusion and life satisfaction.
Conclusion: The results highlight that retired NCOs experience relatively high levels of burnout and social exclusion, as well as low life satisfaction. These findings may contribute to the development of policies to improve the social integration and wellbeing of retired NCOs and to raise public awareness of their post-retirement challenges.
Keywords: Retired NCO, Burnout, Life satisfaction, Social exclusion, Türkiye
Introduction
Ageing is considered the result of natural changes in individuals’ physical, psychological and social capacities over time, and retirement constitutes one of the most visible stages of this process.1,2 The transformation of the workforce brought about by the Industrial Revolution and the institutionalisation of social security systems paved the way for retirement to emerge as a regular practice in modern societies. Today, retirement is also viewed not merely as the end of working life, but as a multidimensional life stage that affects an individual’s sense of identity, social roles, economic position and psychological wellbeing.3-6
The literature contains theories that evaluate the social and individual aspects of retirement. Among the theoretical approaches developed to explain the social and individual aspects of retirement, the ‘modernisation theory’ links the loss of status of older individuals to their detachment from economic productivity,7 the ‘disengagement theory’ emphasises that old age progresses with a gradual disengagement from social interaction.8,9 ‘Age stratification theory’ views retirement as an element of the age-based distribution of societal roles.10 ‘Exchange theory’ suggests that the disruption of the reward-cost balance in social relationships during retirement can increase feelings of status loss, exclusion and psychological burnout.11 Furthermore, Atchley’s model, which defines retirement as a six-stage process encompassing preparation, transition, and adjustment,4 and Hornstein and Wapner’s approach, which classifies the retirement experience in four different ways, reveal the subjective aspects of the retirement period that differ among individuals.12 All these theoretical and empirical findings demonstrate that retirement is a multidimensional transition area where biological, psychological, social and economic variables intersect, and that the retirement process must be addressed within a holistic framework in the context of social policy, working life regulations and ageing studies.
Retired individuals are seen as a psychosocially disadvantaged and vulnerable group due to factors such as decreased income, changes in social roles, distancing from social relationships, health problems and the inability to adapt to new living conditions. Negative consequences related to burnout, life satisfaction and social exclusion become more pronounced in vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.12,13 The military profession is among the most challenging and demanding, requiring significant sacrifice. NCOs generally do not view the military profession as merely a job, but rather embrace it as a way of life. Therefore, when they retire, they may experience greater difficulty in accepting and adapting to retirement than other professional groups.14
The literature review conducted on burnout studies15-17 studies on social exclusion18-23 and life satisfaction24-32 have generally been conducted on employees and do not include retired NCOs. In Türkiye, research specifically on retired NCOs has been conducted by Artemel,33 Kuraner34 and Küçükoğlu Yalçın.14 Artemel examined ‘the psychological symptoms, attitudes towards seeking psychological help, and life satisfaction of retired NCOs’.33 Kuraner examined ‘the levels of burnout among retired officers and NCOs in terms of demographic characteristics’.33 Küçükoğlu Yalçın also examined ‘the relationship between life satisfaction and burnout among retired NCOs living in the province of Denizli’14 at a regional level. Our study differs from others in that it examines levels of burnout, social exclusion and life satisfaction among retired NCOs. It examines the relationships among these phenomena within a broader framework across three dimensions.
The problems individuals experience in old age and retirement are not only individual issues but also important concerns for all societies and require solutions. The selection of retired NCOs as the retirement group for this study was influenced by the challenging and demanding working conditions inherent in the military profession, the social security benefits available to retired NCOs, and the limited research on these topic among military retirees. Given the characteristics of the military profession, examining the situation of this group during retirement will both address the problems experienced by retired non-commissioned NCOs and develop policies that support their social integration.
Method
Research design, population and sample
The research used a quantitative survey method and employed a descriptive survey model. Neuman defines quantitative research as testing predetermined hypotheses, conducting analysis based on measurable variables, and using deductive reasoning, while descriptive research is defined as research that describes the current state of social phenomena and reveals the characteristics of the group under study in detail.35
The study population consists of approximately 150 000 retired NCOs living throughout Türkiye, according to the records of relevant institutions and associations.36,37 While determining the sample size, the sample size calculation table developed by Yazıcıoğlu and Erdoğan was utilised.38 According to this table, a sample of 1056 individuals would represent a population of 100 000 with a 3% margin of error (p=0.5 and q=0.5); A sample of 1066 individuals is required to represent a population of 1 000 000 with a 3% margin of error (p=0.5 and q=0.5). The 1084 surveys administered and deemed valid in this study indicate that a sample size representative of the study’s population has been reached.
Data collection tool
The data was obtained using Google Forms, utilising retired NCOs’ associations and social media platforms. In the study, a structured questionnaire (Appendix 1) consisting of scales with proven validity and reliability was used as the data collection tool. The questionnaire comprises four sections and 51 items.
The first section consists of 14 questions designed to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of the sample, covering variables such as age, gender, marital status, number of children, education level, retirement status, reason for retirement, length of service, retirement duration, household income, post-retirement employment status, home ownership, household structure and region of residence.
In the second section, the Burnout Measure Short Version (BMS) was used to assess participants’ burnout levels. Pines and Aronson developed the original form of the scale as a 21-item seven-point Likert-type structure.39 Later, to facilitate ease of use, a shortened version consisting of 10 points was created by Pines.40 The Turkish adaptation and reliability study of the scale was done by Tümkaya et al. The scale is rated from 1, ‘Never’ to 7, ‘Always’.41
In the third section, the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) was used to assess participants’ subjective wellbeing levels. The scale is a short measurement tool consisting of five items and a five-point Likert scale, developed by Diener et al.42 The Turkish adaptation and reliability study of the scale was done by Dağlı and Baysal. The scale is rated from 1, ‘Strongly disagree’ to 5, ‘Strongly agree’.43
In the fourth section, the Social Exclusion Scale for Older People (SESOP) was used to assess the participants’ levels of social exclusion. Apak and Apak developed SESOP, which consists of 22 items with a five-point Likert scale. The scale items are grouped into four subscales: material deprivation, lack of informal social support, exclusion from transportation and financial services, and environmental exclusion. One item on the scale has been reverse coded; calculations have been made to account for this. The scale is rated from 1, ‘Never’ to 5, ‘Always’.44
Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22, and the significance level was set at p<0.05. In the study, descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations), independent samples t-tests for comparing two groups, one-way ANOVA for comparing three or more groups, Tukey or Tamhane post-hoc tests considering homogeneity of variance, and Pearson correlation analysis for examining the relationships between variables were used.
Ethics and limitations
Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Kocaeli University Faculty of Social and Human Sciences Ethics Committee, with decision number 13, taken at meeting number 24/05 on April 18, 2024.
- The analysis of the data used to measure levels of burnout, social exclusion and life satisfaction among retired NCOs in the study is limited by the scales’ small number of items.
- The responses provided by participants on the scale were deemed accurate and valid.
- The main subjects of the research, namely burnout, social exclusion and life satisfaction, can be observed at different levels as they may vary according to participants’ perceptions. This observation highlights the need not to forget that the subject is approached subjectively.
Reliability analyses of scales
The reliability analyses for the research were conducted using the Cronbach Alpha method. It is stated in the literature that scales with Cronbach Alpha values of α<0.5 cannot be accepted, that scales with 0.5≤α<0.6 will have weak reliability, that scales with 0.6≤α<0.7 will be acceptable, that scales with 0.7≤α<0.9 can be considered good, and that scales with α>0.9 will have high reliability.45,46
The reliability coefficient of BMS is 0.946, the reliability coefficient of SWLS is 0.865, and the reliability coefficient of SESOP is 0.870. The reliability coefficients of the SESOP sub-dimensions are as follows: 0.832 for the Material Deprivation sub-dimension, 0.668 for the Lack of Informal Support subscale, 0.612 for the Exclusion from Transport and Financial Services subscale and 0.731 for the Environmental Exclusion subscale. This shows that the Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients obtained indicate that the scales used in the study are quite reliable. The Cronbach Alpha Reliability Analysis Results for the scales are presented in Table 1.
Table 1
Results of reliability analysis of the scales used in the study
Scales
Cronbach Alpha
Burnout Measure short version
0.946
Satisfaction with Life Scale
0.865
Material Deprivation (subscale)
0.832
Lack of Informal Support (subscale)
0.668
Exclusion from Transport and Financial Services (subscale)
0.612
Environmental Exclusion (subscale)
0.731
Social Exclusion Scale for Older People
0.870
Findings
Demographic variables
Demographic characteristics reveal significant insights into the difficulties experienced by retired NCOs. According to data obtained from survey results, the participants consisted of a total of 1084 people, 99.5% (n: 1079) of whom were male and 0.5% (n: 5) were female. It is thought that the low employment rate among female NCOs contributes to the low participation rate. Of the participants, 8.8% (n: 95) had completed high school, 26.6% (n: 288) had completed an associate’s degree, 58.2% (n: 631) had completed a bachelor’s degree, and 6.5% (n: 70) had completed a postgraduate degree. Forty-one and a half per cent of participants retired due to problems encountered in their profession, 37.6% (n: 408) retired to spend time with themselves and their families, 7.9% (n: 86) retired due to job offers they received, and 6.7% (n: 73) retired due to health problems. Four hundred and fifty-six (42.1%) participants retired after 26–30 years, 390 (36%) after 20–25 years, 179 (16.5%) after 31–35 years, and 59 (5.4%) after 36 years or more in their profession. Almost 82% (n: 877) of the participants had a family income below 61 000 TL, which was below the poverty line at the time of the study. One hundred and eighty-eight (17.3%) participants live in rented accommodation, and 497 (46%) participants work in various sectors after retirement.
Descriptive statistics
When examining participants’ responses to the Burnout Scale options, the highest average score was for the statement ‘I feel tired (Mean=4.5)’, while the lowest was for the statement ‘I feel worthless and like a failure (Mean=2.98)’. The overall burnout level of retired NCOs was 3.74±1.72. The findings indicate that retired NCOs have above-average levels of burnout. Descriptive statistics for the BMS are presented in Table 2.
Table 2
Descriptive statistic of BMS
Items
Never
Almost never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Very often
Always
Mean
SD
I feel tired.
n
108
72
135
177
253
122
217
4.5
1.88
%
10.0
6.6
12.5
16.3
23.3
11.3
20.0
I feel disappointed by people.
n
122
109
123
138
221
146
225
4.44
1.99
%
11.3
10.1
11.3
12.7
20.4
13.5
20.8
I feel hopeless.
n
173
102
102
119
183
161
244
4.38
2.13
%
16.0
9.4
9.4
11.0
16.9
14.9
22.5
I feel trapped.
n
290
132
110
120
145
117
170
3.67
2.21
%
26.8
12.2
10.1
11.1
13.4
10.8
15.7
I feel helpless.
n
335
127
119
105
142
95
161
3.48
2.22
%
30.9
11.7
11.0
9.7
13.1
8.8
14.9
I feel sad/grief.
n
232
161
133
133
158
108
159
3.72
2.11
%
21.4
14.9
12.3
12.3
14.6
10.0
14.7
I feel physically unwell.
N
336
160
130
123
140
87
108
3.24
2.07
%
31.0
14.8
12.0
11.3
12.9
8.0
10.0
I feel worthless and like a failure.
N
440
144
97
107
110
65
121
2.98
2.14
%
40.6
13.3
8.9
9.9
10.1
6.0
11.2
I’m having trouble sleeping.
N
318
158
125
141
127
87
128
3.35
2.1
%
29.3
14.6
11.5
13.0
11.7
8.0
11.8
“I’ve had it”.
N
254
156
126
122
160
118
148
3.67
2.12
%
23.4
14.4
11.6
11.3
14.8
10.9
13.7
Overall mean
3.74
1.72
When examining the responses given by retired NCOs included in the study to the life satisfaction scale, the highest average was found in the statement ‘I have achieved the important things I wanted from life so far (Mean=2.74)’, while the lowest was found in the statement ‘If I were to be born again, I would not change almost anything in my life (Mean=2.07)’. The life satisfaction level of retired NCOs was found to be 2.46±0.96 on average and was determined to be below the general average. The descriptive statistics for the SWLS are presented in Table 3.
Table 3
Descriptive statistic of SWLS
Items
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
Mean
SD
In most ways, my life is close to my ideal.
n
301
254
299
156
74
2.49
1.23
%
27.8
23.4
27.6
14.4
6.8
The conditions of my life are excellent.
n
331
291
314
111
37
2.29
1.11
%
30.5
26.8
29
10.2
3.4
I am satisfied with my life.
n
212
263
328
178
103
2.72
1.22
%
19.6
24.3
30.3
16.4
9.5
So far, I have gotten the important things I want in life.
n
166
302
342
192
82
2.74
1.14
%
15.3
27.9
31.5
17.7
7.6
If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing.
n
504
230
182
101
67
2.07
1.25
%
46.5
21.2
16.8
9.3
6.2
Overall mean
2.46
0.96
When examining the responses given by participants in the study to the Material Deprivation subscale, the highest average was found in the statement ‘Paying for private healthcare (private hospital) is difficult for me (Mean=3.98)’, while the lowest was observed in the statement ‘I have problems keeping my home sufficiently warm (Mean=2.29)’. The participants’ levels of material deprivation were 3.12±0.86, which is around average.
When examining the responses of retired NCOs to the subscale of lack of informal support, the highest average was found in the statement ‘My close relatives do not come to my aid when I have a problem (Mean=2.85)’, while the lowest was found in the statement ‘No one visits me when I am sick (Mean=2.59)’. Retired NCOs experienced a level of lack of informal support of 2.71±0.8, indicating a higher level than the overall average.
When examining the responses of retired NCOs to the subscale of exclusion from transportation and financial services, the highest average was observed in the statement ‘It is difficult for me to conduct transactions related to my bank account or savings (Mean=2.47)’, while the lowest was observed in the statement ‘It is difficult for me to withdraw money from ATMs or post offices (Mean=1.5)’. The level of exclusion of NCOs from transportation and financial services is 2.2±0.87, indicating a lower than the overall average.
When examining the responses of retired NCOs to the Environmental Exclusion subscale, the highest average was found in the statement ‘There is noise in the environment where I live (Mean = 2.47)’, while the lowest average was found in the statement ‘Incidents occur in the neighbourhood/district where I live (Mean = 1.89)’. The level of social exclusion among retired NCOs is 2.24±0.85, indicating a lower than the overall average.
When examining the responses of retired NCOs included in the study to the Social Exclusion Scale, the highest average was found in the statement ‘Paying for private healthcare (private hospital) is difficult for me (Mean=3.98)’, while the lowest average was observed in the statement ‘Withdrawing money from an ATM or post office is difficult for me (Mean=1.5)’. The level of social exclusion among retired NCOs was 2.57±0.64, indicating it was above the general average. Descriptive statistics for the Social Exclusion Scale are presented in Table 4.
The analysis of demographic characteristics revealed a statistically significant relationship between NCOs reasons for retirement and their levels of burnout, social exclusion and life satisfaction (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between retired NCOs’ educational levels and their levels of burnout, life satisfaction and social exclusion (p>0.05).
Table 4
Descriptive statistics of the Social Exclusion Scale for Older People
Items
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Generally
Always
Mean
SD
I worry about my financial situation.
n
94
182
280
223
305
3.43
1.29
%
8.7
16.8
25.8
20.6
28.1
It is difficult to cope with unexpected expenses.
n
68
158
287
222
349
3.58
1.25
%
6.3
14.6
26.5
20.5
32.2
We are struggling to make ends meet.
n
143
166
236
221
318
3.37
1.39
%
13.2
15.3
21.8
20.4
29.3
It is difficult to buy food items such as meat, fish, and chicken for home.
n
164
188
306
236
190
3.09
1.3
%
15.1
17.3
28.2
21.8
17.5
Paying for private healthcare (private hospital) expenses is difficult for me.
n
75
89
174
193
553
3.98
1.27
%
6.9
8.2
16.1
17.8
51.0
It’s difficult for me to pay my debts.
n
201
228
329
155
171
2.88
1.31
%
18.5
21.0
30.4
14.3
15.8
I have difficulty borrowing money.
n
251
211
274
138
210
2.86
1.42
%
23.2
19.5
25.3
12.7
19.4
I can easily buy a new refrigerator, TV or washing machine when they get old.
n
134
137
264
313
236
3.35
1.29
%
12.4
12.6
24.4
28.9
21.8
I have problems with the house being heated properly.
n
398
252
235
121
78
2.29
1.26
%
36.7
23.2
21.7
11.2
7.2
Material Deprivation (subscale)
3.12
0.86
When I have a problem, my close relatives don’t come to my aid.
n
216
199
350
166
153
2.85
1.3
%
19.9
18.4
32.3
15.3
14.1
When I have a problem, my friends don’t come to my aid.
n
168
244
426
136
110
2.79
1.16
%
15.5
22.5
39.3
12.5
10.1
I don’t have any friends with whom I can share my secrets.
n
235
275
320
132
122
2.66
1.26
%
21.7
25.4
29.5
12.2
11.3
When I need help, the people around me/in the neighbourhood don’t come to my aid.
n
202
268
397
121
96
2.67
1.16
%
18.6
24.7
36.6
11.2
8.9
When I am sick, no one come to visit.
n
260
245
362
115
102
2.59
1.22
%
24.0
22.6
33.4
10.6
9.4
Lack of Informal Support (subscale)
2.71
0.8
I have difficulty getting to where I want to go on my own.
n
374
220
234
135
121
2.45
1.36
%
34.5
20.3
21.6
12.5
11.2
It’s difficult for me to manage my bank account or savings.
n
366
235
231
113
139
2.47
1.38
%
33.8
21.7
21.3
10.4
12.8
I can’t walk alone comfortably on the street at night.
n
406
209
241
110
118
2.38
1.36
%
37.5
19.3
22.2
10.1
10.9
Withdrawing money from ATMs or post offices is difficult for me.
n
805
128
82
30
39
1.5
1
%
74.3
11.8
7.6
2.8
3.6
Exclusion from Transport and Financial Services (subscale)
2.2
0.87
There are incidents in the neighbourhood where I live.
n
468
366
175
49
26
1.89
0.99
%
43.2
33.8
16.1
4.5
2.4
I don’t feel safe in the environment/neighbourhood where I live.
n
333
260
283
117
91
2.42
1.26
%
30.7
24.0
26.1
10.8
8.4
There is noise in the neighbourhood where I live.
n
266
319
303
112
84
2.47
1.19
%
24.5
29.4
28.0
10.3
7.7
The environment/neighbourhood I live in is polluted.
n
365
326
267
74
52
2.19
1.12
%
33.7
30.1
24.6
6.8
4.8
Environmental Exclusion (subscale)
2.24
0.85
SESOP (overall mean)
2.57
0.64
An investigation of the relationship among burnout, social exclusion and life satisfaction levels
The burnout levels of retired NCOs included in the study were found to be significantly correlated with material deprivation (r=0.648, p<0.001), exclusion from transport and financial services (r=0.534, p<0.001), environmental exclusion (r=0.413, p<0.001) and general social exclusion (r=0.592, p<0.001) levels; there is a weak positive linear relationship between levels of lack of informal support (r=0.177, p<0.001). As participants’ levels of burnout increase, so do their levels of material deprivation, lack of informal support, exclusion from transport and financial services, environmental exclusion and social exclusion.
There is a moderate negative linear relationship between the burnout levels of retired non-commissioned NCOs included in the study and their life satisfaction levels (r=-0.576, p< 0.001). As participants’ burnout levels increase, their life satisfaction levels decrease.
Retired NCOs life satisfaction levels correlate with material deprivation (r=-0.548, p<0.001), exclusion from transport and financial services (r=-0.376, p<0.001) and social exclusion (r=-0.412, p<0.001) levels; and a weak negative linear relationship with environmental exclusion (r=-0.259, p<0.001) levels. As participants’ life satisfaction increases, levels of material deprivation, exclusion from transport and financial services, environmental exclusion and social exclusion decrease. No statistically significant relationship was found between participants’ life satisfaction levels and their levels of deprivation of informal support (p>0.05). Data on the relationship between burnout, social exclusion and life satisfaction levels among retired NCOs are presented in Table 5.
Table 5
The relationship among burnout, social exclusion and life satisfaction levels among
Scales
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(1) Burnout
r
1
-.576**
.648**
.177**
.534**
.413**
.592**
p
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
(2) Life satisfaction
r
1
-.548**
-.045
-.376**
-.259**
-.412**
p
<0.001
0.135
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
(3) Material deprivation
r
1
.286**
.602**
.464**
.785**
p
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
(4) Lack of informal support
r
1
.360**
.322**
.639**
p
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
(5) Exclusion from transportation and financial services
r
1
.511**
.827**
p
<0.001
<0.001
(6) Environmental exclusion
r
1
.764**
p
<0.001
(7) Social exclusion
r
1
p
*0.05, **0.01 level of significance, Pearson Correlation Analysis
Discussion
Given the limited number of studies on retired NCOs in the literature, the findings of this study were also compared with those of studies on serving military personnel and other professions. In his study examining the relationship between life satisfaction and hopelessness levels of retired NCOs living in the city centre of Balıkesir, Küçükoğlu Yalçın concluded that the life satisfaction and hopelessness levels of retired NCOs were at a moderate level.14 In a study conducted by Lei Shi et al. to examine the relationship between burnout and occupational stress factors among military personnel working in China’s plateau region, the overall burnout levels of military personnel were found to be moderate.17 Jose and Cherayi examined the effect of older individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics on social exclusion and found that older individuals experience high levels of social exclusion.20
This study found that retired NCOs’ levels of burnout and social exclusion were above average, while their levels of life satisfaction were below average. Retired NCOs’ feelings of hopelessness, disappointment in the people around them and exhaustion stand out as the most significant scale items increasing their burnout levels. The fact that living conditions are not ideal and the thought of changing many things if they were to return to this world are important factors that reduce life satisfaction levels. The difficulties retired NCOs face in paying for private healthcare services, sudden expenses and concerns about their financial situation, the lack of support from close relatives when they encounter problems, difficulties in managing their bank accounts and savings, and noise pollution in their neighbourhood are the most significant factors negatively affecting their level of social exclusion.
A study by Küçükoğlu Yalçın found a strong negative correlation between retired NCOs’ scores on the Beck Hopelessness Scale and their Life Satisfaction Scale.14 Demir, in his study examining the effects of different demographic variables on the life satisfaction of elderly individuals, along with poverty, social exclusion and relative position anxiety, concluded that there is a negative relationship between social exclusion and life satisfaction.27 In their study examining the role of social exclusion and life satisfaction in explaining an individuals’ quality of life, Aydemir and Arlı found an inverse relationship between life satisfaction and social exclusion, concluding that as life satisfaction increases, social exclusion decreases.47 Şad and Şahin, in their study examining burnout among hotel employees and determining its effect on employees’ life satisfaction, found a significant negative relationship between burnout and life satisfaction, concluding that as burnout levels increased, life satisfaction decreased.48 Vojvodic et al. reported in their study of professional soldiers serving in the Serbian Armed Forces that personnel with low levels of burnout had high life satisfaction and that there was an inverse relationship between burnout and life satisfaction.49 Dağdelen and Özkan conducted a study to examine the relationship between special education teachers’ levels of burnout and life satisfaction and their experiences. They reported a significantly negative relationship between life satisfaction and burnout.32
According to the correlation analysis results of our study, a moderate positive linear relationship was found between participants’ burnout levels and their levels of social exclusion. It has been observed that participants’ levels of social exclusion increase as their burnout levels rise. A moderate negative linear relationship was found between participants’ burnout levels and their life satisfaction. It has been observed that participants’ life satisfaction decrease as their burnout levels increase. A moderate negative linear relationship was found between participants’ life satisfaction and social exclusion. The correlational results indicate that changes in one of the three phenomena can statistically significantly affect the other two, either positively or negatively, and these results are consistent with similar studies in the literature.
Regarding demographic characteristics, changes in the educational levels of retired NCOs did not alter their levels of burnout, life satisfaction or social exclusion. However, research in the literature shows that as individuals’ education levels increase, their life satisfaction rises, and their levels of social exclusion and burnout decrease. In this respect, the study is inconsistent with the literature. This may be because there is no significant difference in income for NCOs as their education levels increase.
According to the reason for retirement, retired NCOs showed statistically significant differences in burnout, material deprivation, lack of informal support, exclusion from transportation and financial services, environmental exclusion, social exclusion and life satisfaction levels (p<0.05). Our study findings reveal that health status is a significant determinant of burnout, life satisfaction and social exclusion. In addition, the study found that individuals who retired due to professional problems experienced high levels of burnout and social exclusion, as well as lower life satisfaction. These results show that experiences and problems encountered during professional life positively or negatively affect an individual’s levels of burnout, social exclusion and life satisfaction during retirement.
Conclusion and recommendation
In recent years, declining fertility rates worldwide and in Türkiye, coupled with advancements in healthcare and technology that have extended life expectancy, have led to an increase in the proportion of elderly and retired people within societies. The problems individuals experience in advanced age and retirement are no longer just individual issues; they have become significant societal issues requiring solutions. This study, conducted specifically on retired NCOs, presents important findings for identifying the retirement problems societies face today and are likely to face more frequently in the future, and for developing solutions.
The study found that retired non-commissioned officers had above-average levels of burnout and social exclusion and below-average levels of life satisfaction, with statistically significant relationships between these findings. These findings suggest that interventions aimed at improving one condition will also have positive effects on other conditions.
To improve the levels of burnout, social exclusion and life satisfaction of retired NCOs:
- efforts should be made to increase their incomes, given that a large number of retired NCOs live below the poverty line
- projects that enable retired NCOs to become home owners before retirement should be developed
- solutions to enable retired NCOs to use private healthcare facilities should be sourced
- the problems experienced by retired NOCs during their careers that influence their retirement decisions should be addressed and resolved.
It is believed that implementing activities/practices that enable retired NCOs to actively participate in social processes and are inclusive of them will positively contribute to their burnout, social exclusion and life satisfaction levels.
In conclusion, the research findings reveal that retired individuals are at high risk of experiencing various psychosocial problems such as burnout, social exclusion and low life satisfaction. This situation shows that retired NCOs are vulnerable not only economically, but also in their social relationships, psychological wellbeing and social participation. More comprehensive, in-depth, and multidimensional academic studies of the problems experienced by retired NCOs will contribute to a better understanding of these issues and guide decision-makers in policymaking processes aimed at addressing them.
Appendix 1 Research questionnaire
|
Research questionnaire |
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| Dear participant, this survey is being conducted to provide data for a doctoral thesis entitled Determining the Burnout, Life Satisfaction, and Perceived Levels of Social Exclusion among Retired Non-Commissioned Officers and Examining the Relationship between these Phenomena and prepared using scientific methods. The survey will be used for scientific purposes. The information you provide will be kept strictly confidential and will not be shared in any way. The survey consists of 4 sections and 51 questions. Personal details such as your name, surname, and Turkish ID number are not requested. | ||||||||||||
|
DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS (14 questions) Please indicate the option that best suits you for the following questions numbered 1–14. |
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| 1 | Age |
40 and under ( ) |
41–50 ( ) |
51–60 ( ) |
61–70 ( ) |
71 and above ( ) |
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| 2 | Gender |
Male ( ) |
Female ( ) |
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| 3 | Marital status |
Married ( ) |
Single ( ) |
Widow ( ) |
Other ( ) |
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| 4 | Child status |
None ( ) |
1 ( ) |
2 ( ) |
3 ( ) |
4 and above ( ) |
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| 5 | Educational status |
Middle School
( ) |
High school
( ) |
Associate Degree
( ) |
Bachelor’s degree ( ) |
Master’s/ Doctorate ( ) |
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| 6 | Retirement status |
Voluntarily ( ) |
Disabled ( ) |
Resignation ( ) |
Compulsory ( ) |
Other ( ) |
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| 7 |
Reasons for retirement |
To spend time with oneself and one’s family ( ) |
Health problems
( ) |
Problems encountered in the profession
( ) |
Job offers he has received
( ) |
Other
( ) |
||||||
| 8 | Length of service in the profession |
20-25 years
( ) |
26-30 years
( ) |
31-35 years
( ) |
36 years and above ( ) |
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| 9 | The period after retirement |
0-5 years
( ) |
6-10 years
( ) |
11-15 years
( ) |
16-20 years
( ) |
21 and years
( ) |
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| Appendix 1 (Continued) | ||||||||||||
| 10 | Family income |
20-30 thousand TL
( ) |
31-40 thousand TL
( ) |
41-50 thousand TL
( ) |
51-60 thousand TL
( ) |
61 thousand TL above ( ) |
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| 11 | Engaging in income-generating activities after retirement |
I work in my own name and on my own behalf ( ) |
I work for an employer
( ) |
I work in the public sector
( ) |
I am not working
( ) |
Other
( ) |
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| 12 | Housing situation you are living in |
Rent
( ) |
My own
( ) |
It’s a relative’s house. I don’t pay rent ( ) |
Accommodation
( ) |
I am paying off my own mortgage ( ) |
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| 13 | Who he/she lived with in the residence |
On my own
( ) |
My wife
( ) |
My wife and children ( ) |
My relatives
( ) |
Other
( ) |
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| 14 | The place where he/she lives |
Metropolitan city ( ) |
Province
( ) |
Province
( ) |
Town
( ) |
Village
( ) |
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| BURNOUT QUESTIONS (10 questions) | ||||||||||||
|
Please indicate HOW OFTEN you EXPERIENCE the following situations by selecting the option that BEST applies to you. |
Never | Almost Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Often | Very Often | Always | |||||
| 15 | I feel tired. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| 16 | I feel disappointed by people. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| 17 | I feel hopeless. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| 18 | I feel trapped. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| 19 | I feel helpless. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| 20 | I feel sad/grief. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| 21 | I feel physically unwell. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| 22 | I feel worthless and like a failure. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| 23 | I’m having trouble sleeping. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| 24 | “I’ve had it” | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
| Appendix 1 (Continued) | ||||||||||||
| LIFE SATISFACTION QUESTIONS (5 questions) | ||||||||||||
|
Please indicate your level of agreement by selecting the option that BEST APPROVES for you in the following situations.
|
Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Neither agree nor Disagree | Agree | Strongly Agree | |||||||
| 25 | In most ways my life is close to my ideal. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 26 | The conditions of my life are excellent. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 27 | I am satisfied with my life. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 28 | So far I have gotten the important things I want in life. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 29 | If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| SOCIAL EXCLUSION QUESTİONS (22 questions) | ||||||||||||
|
Please indicate your level of agreement by selecting the option that BEST APPROVES for you in the following situations. |
Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Generally | Always | |||||||
| 30 | I worry about my financial situation. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 31 | When I have a problem, my close relatives don’t come to my aid. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 32 | There are incidents in the neighbourhood where I live. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 33 | It is difficult to cope with unexpected expenses. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 34 | We are struggling to make ends meet. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 35 | I have difficulty getting to where I want to go on my own. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 36 | It is difficult to buy food items such as meat, fish, and chicken for home. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 37 | When I have a problem, my friends don’t come to my aid. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 38 | Paying for private healthcare (private hospital) expenses is difficult for me. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 39 | I don’t feel safe in the environment/neighbourhood where I live. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 40 | It’s difficult for me to pay my debts. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 41 | I have difficulty borrowing money. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 42 | It’s difficult for me to manage my bank account or savings. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 43 | I can easily buy a new refrigerator, TV, or washing machine when they get old. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 44 | I don’t have any friends with whom I can share my secrets. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 45 | I have a problems with the house being heated properly. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| Appendix 1 (Continued) | ||||||||||||
| 46 | When I need help, the people around me/in the neighbourhood don’t come to my aid. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 47 | There is noise in the neighbourhood where I live. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 48 | When I am sick, no one come to visit. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 49 | I can’t walk alone comfortably on the street at night. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 50 | Withdrawing money from ATMs or post office is difficult for me | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| 51 | The environment/neighbourhood I live in is polluted. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| Thank you very much for participating in the survey. | ||||||||||||
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare that there are no potential conflicts of interest regarding the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.
Funding
The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.