Relationship between types of acculturation and happiness: A study on Ahiska Turks living in the USA, Russia and Kazakhstan

Forced or voluntary migration is becoming the most relevant topic in the social sciences. Millions of people belonging to different ethnic groups move freely around the world and participate in the practice of cultural exchange with other nationalities, which is called acculturation. In the process of acculturation, it is important to determine using what type of acculturation migrants have a positive adaptation and are happy. Therefore, the main purpose of the current study was to investigate the influence of acculturation types on level of happiness. Besides, the researcher has examined the effect of demographic variables on the level of happiness. This study involved a sample of 188 Ahiska Turks from the United States, Russia and Kazakhstan. Data was collected from participants by using questionnaires. Types of acculturation was measured by using Acculturation Attitude Scale (AAS), level of happiness was measured with the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, and for several demographic variables (age, gender, educational status, employment, marital status, religion) sociademographic information form was used. The results of the study showed that Ahiska Turks using separation and integration type of acculturation in almost all age groups are happier than those who use assimilation and marginalization. Also, findings suggested that Ahiska Turks in a different generation change their types of acculturation from separation (the first generation of deportees) to assimilation (the last generation of the deportees). As a result, Ahiska Turks living in the United States are happier than those who live in Russia and Kazakhstan. However, there are not differences between Russian and Kazakhstan participants on the happiness level. The obtained results are generally consistent with the results of previous studies. Furthermore, strengths, limitations of the current study, and suggestions for future research were also discussed.