Analysis of the dynamics influencing life satisfaction of older workers from an active aging perspective

Life satisfaction means evaluating life as a whole from both an objective and subjective point of view. For this reason, it is essential to determine the factors that affect the person's life satisfaction, maintain their life satisfaction level, and improve and develop the situation that affects their satisfaction with life. In addition, increasing people's level of life satisfaction is an influential factor in ensuring active participation in life. In this study, factors influencing the life satisfaction of older workers assessed from the point of view of active aging were identified. The study focuses primarily on obtaining information on the profile of older workers in Turkey. Secondly, it aims to determine the dynamics that affect the life satisfaction of older employees and contribute to active aging strategies and policies that will be developed for older employees in the future, both economically and in terms of the workforce. It is also observed that studies on this topic in the national literature are limited. A further objective is to contribute to literature studies on older workers and life satisfaction and present a perspective on academic research. In the study, secondary data analysis was done using data from the life satisfaction survey conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute in 2018. The characteristics of the participants and the areas of life satisfaction of the older employees were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression techniques through the SPSS program. The survey sample is composed of workers aged 55 and over. The study results were considered under three headings: characteristics of participants, older workers and life satisfaction, and factors affecting life satisfaction of older workers. As a result, the effects of seven domains, namely socio-demographic characteristics, health, income, work, leisure time, social relations, and environmental factors, consisting of subjective and objective indicators, were measured on the life satisfaction of older workers. It has been found that these fields impact the life satisfaction of older workers. It is understood that the most influential factor for older workers' life satisfaction is the country's general welfare level. In this direction, in order to improve or maintain the life satisfaction levels of older workers, social policies based on active aging policies are needed to ensure intergenerational equality to increase their employment time, opportunities for participation in society, well-being in the field of health, and age-friendly environments. These policies should be evaluated from the perspective of active aging, and long-term policies should be developed, rather than the approach that older workers will create problems in the economy and workforce in the future.