The effect of social capital, positive psychological capital, hope and economic expectations on the social integration of immigrants: The example of Ahıska Turks placed in Erzincan

Social cohesion provides the unity and solidarity of different ethnic origin, different religious belief, social class or immigrant individuals that make up the society, based on equality and freedom, within democratic rules. The main purpose of this study is to develop a solution proposal with a scientific study for one of the most fundamental problems of Turkey, "social cohesion of immigrants". The relationship between social cohesion and individuals' positive psychological capital, economic expectations, hopes and social capital was analyzed by creating a hypothetical model. In the analysis, the cross-sectional data obtained from the survey conducted with 269 immigrants selected by random sampling method among the Meskhetian Turks settled in the Üzümlü District of Erzincan Province were used. The data were analyzed using the Structural Equation Model. Structural Equation Model result: Positive Psychological Capital's Social Cohesion was positively and very high (γ = 0.82; t = 7.65); Social Cohesion of Economic Expectation was positive and very high (γ = 0.85; t = 12.69); It was found that Hope affects Social Cohesion positively and at a very high level (γ = 0.85; t = 9.93) and Social Capital affects Social Cohesion positively and at a very high level (γ = 0.67; t = 6.09). The study was carried out with a small number of Ahıska Turks settled in Üzümlü District and in a narrow area. Keywords: Social Cohesion, Social Capital, Positive Psychological Capital, Hope, Economic Expectation