Abstract
For the soldiers involved, leaving the army and becoming civilians represents a psychosocial transition from one culture to another. This study is an attempt to view, in an exploratory way, this transition through the framework provided by Breakwell’s (1986, 1996) Identity Process Theory and Berry’s (1990) Acculturation Model. One hundred and eighty-seven questionnaires concerning identity related issues were sent out to ex-soldiers and one hundred and forty-three were completed and returned by the cut-off date. Of these, one hundred and twenty-one were from male ex-soldiers below retirement age and were included in the study. The use of Factor Analysis operationally defined two underlying dimensions relevant to identity. The use of Hierarchical Regression Analysis led to the production of three subscales which were significant predictors of satisfaction with life. Significant positive correlations were shown between continuity and centrality of ‘soldier’ identity, between how much ex-soldiers had wanted to leave the army and their satisfaction with life, and between length of service and satisfaction with life. A significant difference between satisfaction with life and the two methods of posting (trickle-post and non-trickle-post) that soldiers experience was indicated. An examination of the interaction between the type of fulfillment of identity principles, the level of continuity and the centrality of identity produced surprising findings. Additionally, implications and recommendations for therapy are discussed.