Mediators and Predictors of Peritraumatic Dissociation after Devastating Consecutive Earthquakes: The role of social support

Abstract

Objective: Dissociation involves the tendency to detach from one's environment, own body and mental states. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of psychiatric symptoms, coping strategies with earthquake stress and the relationship between peritraumatic dissociation one month after two earthquakes that occurred 9 hours apart on 6th February 2023 in Turkey. Method: In this cross-sectional, an online questionnaire distributed through social media groups was filled by 786 university students studying in Adana, including Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire (PDEQ), Coping Strategies with Earthquake Stress Scale, and Brief Symptom Inventory. Results: The peritraumatic dissociation showed a weak negative relationship with religious coping strategy and a very weak positive relationship with seeking social support. Obsessive-compulsivity (β=0.650), anxiety (β=0.572), depression (β=-0.316, i.e., negatively), phobic anxiety (β=0.390), positive symptom distress index (β=-1.888), social support (β=0.597) sub-dimensions were found to be important predictors of PDEQ in the linear regression model (explanatory power R2=0.379) with obsessive-compulsivity (30.9%) being the most contributing factor. Peritraumatic dissociation scores were significantly higher in females and in those with damage or destruction in their homes. Mediation analysis revealed that depression indirectly increased the dissociation score, i.e., by decreasing the seeking social support scores, the latter being found to mediate peritraumatic dissociation. Discussion: The most important predictor of peritraumatic dissociation was obsessive-compulsivity symptoms, with the highest risk in those with more anxiety symptoms and who sought more social support. Therefore, social support is suggested to accompany early symptom screening after the earthquake to reduce outcomes like post-traumatic stress disorders. Keywords: Earthquake; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire; Coping Strategies with Earthquake Stress Scale; Brief Symptom Inventory