Early Aftermath of February 6 Earthquakes in Turkey: PTSD, PTG, and Resilience

Abstract

On February 6, 2023, earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 on the Richter scale struck Turkey, impacting eleven cities within Turkey and adjacent parts of Syria. This study investigates the immediate aftermath (50 days after the disaster) effects of these earthquakes on survivors. The primary focus is on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic growth (PTG), coupled with an exploration of the explanatory roles played by resilience, intolerance to uncertainty, and anxiety. For data collection, the study employs instruments such as the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Brief Resilience Scale, PTG Inventory, and Intolerance to Uncertainty Scale. For the analysis, PTSD groups were formed (categorized using cutoff scores based on PTSD severity [69% high PTSD, 31% low PTSD]) and subjected to t-tests. In addition, multiple regression analysis is utilized to assess whether anxiety, resilience, and intolerance to uncertainty account for variations in PTSD and PTG. The findings revealed that the high PTSD group exhibited higher levels of anxiety, PTG, and intolerance to uncertainty, while displaying lower age and resilience in comparison to the low PTSD group. Moreover, the study found that intolerance to uncertainty (specifically in the inhibitory anxiety subscale), anxiety, and age significantly contributed to explaining PTSD. For PTG, the predictors were intolerance to uncertainty (inhibitory anxiety subscale), resilience, and age. This study underscores the significance of anxiety, resilience, and intolerance to uncertainty in comprehending PTG and PTSD. While PTSD was perceived as a negative aftermath of trauma, PTG was seen as a positive facet.