Views of Secondary School Students on February 6 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes

Year 2025, Volume: 21 Issue: 2, 155 - 173, 30.12.2025

Özlem Yunus

https://doi.org/10.17244/eku.1666870

Abstract

psychological conditions of individuals. The devastating effects of the earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023, centered around Kahramanmaraş, greatly affected Turkey, turning into a major disaster that resulted in loss of lives and property. This research aims to examine the effects of the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes on secondary school students’ perspectives. The study group was selected from secondary school students in Hatay, who had experienced the earthquake, using purposive sampling. In this study, which uses a case study design from qualitative research methods, the participants’ views were obtained through a semi-structured interview form. During the interviews with the participants, 8 questions were asked, and the answers were analyzed through content analysis. The findings of the research revealed that the participants’ views and perceptions of the earthquake were negative. Most participants stated that they were negatively affected by the earthquake, and they had difficulty meeting even their basic needs during that time. The findings obtained from this research can contribute to revealing the impact of earthquakes on students and help in determining measures to be taken in light of potential consequences. Furthermore, it is recommended that psychosocial support be provided to students who have felt the effects of the earthquake in every stage of their lives and have been deeply affected by it, particularly those who have lost a family member.

Keywords

Earthquake , case study , interview

ORTAOKUL ÖĞRENCİLERİNİN 6 ŞUBAT KAHRAMANMARAŞ DEPREMLERİNE YÖNELİK GÖRÜŞLERİ

Abstract

Earthquakes impact not only physical structures but also the economic, sociological, and psychological conditions of individuals. The devastating effects of the earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023, centered around Kahramanmaraş, greatly affected Turkey, turning into a major disaster that resulted in loss of lives and property. This research aims to examine the effects of the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes on secondary school students’ perspectives. The study group was selected from secondary school students in Hatay, who had experienced the earthquake, using purposive sampling. In this study, which uses a case study design from qualitative research methods, the participants’ views were obtained through a semi-structured interview form. During the interviews with the participants, 8 questions were asked, and the answers were analyzed through content analysis. The findings of the research revealed that the participants’ views and perceptions of the earthquake were negative. Most participants stated that they were negatively affected by the earthquake, and they had difficulty meeting even their basic needs during that time. The findings obtained from this research can contribute to revealing the impact of earthquakes on students and help in determining measures to be taken in light of potential consequences. Furthermore, it is recommended that psychosocial support be provided to students who have felt the effects of the earthquake in every stage of their lives and have been deeply affected by it, particularly those who have lost a family member.

Keywords

Earthquake , case study , interview

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