What Makes an Immigrant Prisoners Satisfied? The Case of Afghans in Turkey

This article aims to evaluate the life satisfaction of immigrant prisoners placed in a prison in eastern Turkey by focusing on economic and non-economic factors. A questionnaire was applied to 90 male prisoners in this prison. The dependent variable is a standard life satisfaction question, ranging from 0 (not at all satisfied) to 10 (completely satisfied). The data used in the study were analyzed with the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis method. Findings show that household income satisfaction positively affects inmates’ happiness. A statistically significant difference was found between the mean happiness before and after migration. There has been a significant decrease in the happiness of individuals who have been imprisoned after migration. Factors such as satisfaction with the length of stay in Turkey and being informed about legal rights have positive effects on life satisfaction. As the level of education increases, the happiness of individuals decreases

Anahtar Kelimeler:

Afghan immigrant, income, legal rights, life satisfaction, prisoners

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