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Quality of life among Turkish immigrants in Sweden

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Abstract

Objectives

To assess quality of life among Turkish immigrants in Sweden by using the WHOQOL-100 scale and to evaluate the domains’ contribution to explain the variance in the quality of life of the immigrants. Our hypothesis was QOL among Turkish immigrants in Sweden are better than Turkish people who are living in their home country.

Material and methods

This study was performed in the districts of Stockholm where Turkish immigrants have mostly settled. With the help and guidance of the Turkish Association, a sample of 520 participants was selected. We collected the demographic data by printed questionnaires, and to measure the quality of life, we used the WHOQOL-100 scale Turkish version. For analysis, we used the SPSS V.13.0 and R package programs, variance analyses, and Bayesian regression.

Results

The quality of life among the sample of Turkish immigrants was found to be moderate, but higher than the sample of the Turkish population. The quality of life of male immigrants was found to be higher than for females. Swedish-born Turks had better quality of life perceptions.

Conclusion

Turkish immigrants’ quality of life perceptions were better than those of the Turkish sample. The best scores were received from the third generation. The first generation and female immigrants need attention in order to receive higher quality of life perceptions.

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Acknowledgments

This study was performed with the grant of the TUBA (Turkish Science Academy). The authors would like to thank Prof. Hans Nyquist and Stockholm University Department of Statistics, Turkish General Ambassador Mr. Necip Egüz, Turkish Cultural Consulate Mr. Serkan Dalkılıç, President of the Turkish Labor Federations and Rinkeby Turkish Association Mr. Hasan Dölek, former president of the Turkish Labor Federations Mr. Osman Ozkanat, board member of the Rinkeby Turkish Association Mr. Halil Ibrahim Çigel, president of the Stockholm Turkish Association Mr. Adem Okur, Turkish religious affairs consultant Mr. Sadi Arslan, Turkish high school teacher Mr. Mustafa Sonmez, Turkish families Karan, Sungur, Saygın, and all the Turkish immigrant families who took part in this study for their assistance and kindness. The authors would also like to thank the WHOQOL- TR Group and Prof. Dr. Erhan Eser for their valuable contribution and assessment of the WHOQOL-100 TR scale.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Econometrics, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Uludag University, Gorukle Campus, Bursa, 16059, Turkey

    Nuran Bayram

  2. Department of Statistics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, S-10691, Sweden

    Daniel Thorburn

  3. Department of Statistics, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey

    Haydar Demirhan

  4. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Gorukle Campus, Bursa, 16059, Turkey

    Nazan Bilgel

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  1. Nuran Bayram
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  2. Daniel Thorburn
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  4. Nazan Bilgel
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Correspondence to Nazan Bilgel.

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Bayram, N., Thorburn, D., Demirhan, H. et al. Quality of life among Turkish immigrants in Sweden. Qual Life Res 16, 1319–1333 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9249-6

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