Service as a female naval officer: Implications for aging?

Abstract

An ex-post facto research design was employed comparing 241 female ex-naval officers to a group of 96 women who were their peers at the time they entered the Navy in World War II. Various psychological and sociological dimensions were compared in order to assess the impact of naval officer service. Data was gathered on status, goal attainment, family history, social participation, sex role effects, self-esteem, timing of life events, and financial situation. The former naval officers are all over 66 years of age: strategies and coping skills learned in the Navy may enable them to make a better adjustment to the aging process. The research addresses the question of the usefulness of military service as a bridging environment by providing skills leading to enhanced life satisfaction in the later years.