Analysis of the Challenges Faced by Children with Special Needs Affected by the Earthquake Based on Parents' Views

Abstract

An earthquake is a natural disaster that occurs unexpectedly and profoundly affects individuals' lives with its destructive impacts. This phenomenon, which has psychological, social, economic, and environmental dimensions, can result in traumatic consequences for all individuals; however, it creates a more complex and challenging process particularly for children with special needs. Children with special needs require a high level of routine and a structured environment in their daily lives, and sudden changes in their living conditions can negatively affect them. Overcoming these impacts often requires more support compared to other individuals. The aim of this study is to identify the problems experienced by children with special needs affected by earthquakes based on their parents' statements and to examine in depth the effects of the earthquake on their lives. The study was conducted using a qualitative research design based on the phenomenological approach. Fourteen parents who had experienced an earthquake and had a child with special needs participated in the study. Data were collected through a semi-structured "Parent Interview Form" and analysed using content analysis. Based on the findings, it was seen that children with special needs faced social, educational, psychological and physical difficulties in the pre-earthquake preparation, earthquake management and post-earthquake recovery processes.

Keywords

• Earthquake
• Child with special needs
• Parents

Depremden Etkilenen Özel Gereksinimli Çocukların Karşılaştıkları Sorunların Ebeveynlerin Görüşlerine Göre İncelenmesi

Abstract

Deprem, beklenmedik bir anda meydana gelen ve yıkıcı etkileriyle bireylerin yaşamlarını derinden etkileyen doğal afetlerden biridir. Psikolojik, sosyal, ekonomik ve çevresel birçok boyutu olan bu olay, her birey için travmatik sonuçlar doğurabilmekte ancak özellikle özel gereksinimli çocuklar açısından daha karmaşık ve zorlayıcı bir süreç oluşturmaktadır. Özel gereksinimli çocuklar, günlük yaşamlarında rutinlere ve düzenli bir çevreye yüksek düzeyde ihtiyaç duymakta; yaşantılarındaki ani değişiklikler onları olumsuz yönde etkilemektedir. Bu etkilerin üstesinden gelmeleri diğer bireylere göre daha fazla destek gerektirebilmektedir. Bu araştırmanın amacı, depremden etkilenen özel gereksinimli çocukların yaşadıkları sorunları, ebeveynlerinin ifadeleri doğrultusunda tespit etmek ve depremin bu çocukların yaşamlarına olan etkilerini derinlemesine incelemektir. Çalışma, fenomenolojik yaklaşıma dayalı nitel araştırma deseniyle yürütülmüştür. Araştırmaya, deprem deneyimi yaşamış ve özel gereksinimli bir çocuğa sahip olan 14 ebeveyn katılmıştır. Veriler, yarı yapılandırılmış “Ebeveyn Görüşme Formu” aracılığıyla toplanmış ve içerik analizi yöntemiyle değerlendirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgulara göre özel gereksinimli çocukların deprem öncesi hazırlık, deprem anı yönetimi ve deprem sonrası iyileşme süreçlerinde sosyal, eğitsel, psikolojik ve fiziksel zorluklarla karşı karşıya kaldığı görülmüştür.

Keywords

• Deprem
• Özel gereksinimli çocuk
• Ebeveyn

References

1. Açıkalın, O. (2017). Yüzyılın hesabı: Deprem bağlamında dirayetli toplumun neresindeyiz? Yeni İnsan.
2. AFAD. (2011). Engelliler için depremde ilk 72 saat (M. Kadıoğlu, Ed.). AFAD.
3. Baltacı, A. (2019). Nitel araştırma süreci: Nitel bir araştırma nasıl yapılır? Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 5(2), 368-388. https://doi.org/10.31592/aeusbed.598299 Bilik, M. B. & Akdağ, M. (2023). Özel gereksinimli bireyler ve ebeveynleri açısından afet zorlukları: 2011 Van Depremi örneği. Afet ve Risk Dergisi, 6(1), 243-256.
4. Blanc, J., Eugene, D., Louis, E. F., Cadichon, J. M., Joseph, J., Pierre, A., …, & Huang, K. Y. (2020). Mental health among children older than 10 years exposed to the Haiti 2010 earthquake: A critical review. Current Psychiatry Reports, 22(57), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-020-01178-9
5. Coşkun, Ö. E. & Gürbak, M. (2024). Psikolojik ilk yardım: Acil durumlarda ruh sağlığının desteklenmesi ve korunması. KİÜ Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 2(2), 127–141. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14582028
6. Çitak, Ş. & Dadandı, İ. (2024). The effect of earthquake exposure on PTSD symptoms is mediated by intrusive rumination and moderated by gender: A cross-sectional study on the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake survivors. BMC Public Health, 24, 2294-2306. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19736-8
7. Delicado, A., Rowland, J., Fonseca, S., de Almeida, A. N., Schmidt, L., & Ribeiro, A. S. (2017). Children in disaster risk reduction in Portugal: Policies, education, and (non) participation. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 8, 246–257. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-017-0138-5
8. Eroğlu, M. & Yakşi, N. (2023). Otizm spektrum bozukluğu olan çocuk ve ergenlerde deprem sonrası belirti şiddeti ve uyku alışkanlıklarındaki değişiklikler: 2023 Kahramanmaraş Depremi örneği. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 14(4), 577–586.

9. Ferretti, L. K. & Bub, K. L. (2017). Family routines and school readiness during the transition to kindergarten. Early Education and Development, 28(1), 59–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2016.1195671
10. Hemingway, L. & Priestly, M. (2014). Natural hazards, human vulnerability, and disabling societies: A disaster for disabled people? Review of Disability Studies, 2(3), 57-67.
11. Hipper, T. J., Davis, R., Massey, P. M., Turchi, R. M., Lubell, K. M., Pechta, L. E., …, & Chernak, E. (2018). The disaster information needs of families of children with special healthcare needs: A scoping review. Health Security, 16(3), 178-192.
12. Karabulut, D. & Bekler, T. (2019). Doğal afetlerin çocuklar ve ergenler üzerindeki etkileri. Doğal Afet ve Çevre Dergisi, 5(2), 368-376.
13. Kimura, M. (2020). Negative social interactions and coping behaviors: Experiences of Japanese mothers caring for children with special needs in disaster areas. BMC Research Notes, 13, 247-253. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-020-05087-1
14. King, J., Edwards, N., Watling, H., & Hair, S. (2019). Barriers to disability-inclusive disaster management in the Solomon Islands: Perspectives of people with disability. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 34, 459–466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.12.017
15. Marshall, C. & Rossman, G. B. (2014). Designing qualitative research. Sage.
16. Maspupatun, I. (2017). Keefektifan play therapy untuk penanganan stress pasca trauma bencana alam. Ifdil & K. Naniek (Ed.), International Conference: 1st ASEAN School Counselor Conference on Inovation and Creativity in Counseling içinde (s. 100-109). IBKS.
17. Miles, M. B. & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis. Sage.
18. Miyamoto, S. (1996). Support to problem in children with disabilities during disaster. Research-Aid Paper of the Yasuda Life Welfare Foundation, 31(1), 114-121.
19. Neria, Y., Nandi, A., & Galea, S. (2008). Post-traumatic stress disorder following disasters: A systematic review. Psychological Medicine, 38, 467–480. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291707001353
20. Olçay, S., Oğur, Ç., & Saral, D. (2023). Teaching earthquake preparedness skills to students with developmental disabilities: A preliminary evaluation. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 62(1), 59-73.
21. Örenoğlu, S. & Bekler, T. (2024). Özel gereksinimli çocukların aileleri için afet eğitim programı. Afet ve Risk Dergisi, 7(2), 490-504. https://doi.org/10.35341/afet.1361542
22. Özmenler, N. K., Karlıdere, T., & Battal, S. (2001). Depremzede ruhsal danışma merkezine başvuranların sosyodemografik özellikleri ve semptom sıklıkları. Kriz Dergisi, 9(1), 13–16. https://doi.org/10.1501/Kriz_0000000163
23. Peek, L. & Stough, L. M. (2010). Children with disabilities in the context of disaster: A social vulnerability perspective. Child Development, 81(4), 1260–1270. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01466.x
24. Pfefferbaum, B., Jacobs, A. K., Houston, J. B., & Griffin, N. (2014). Children’s disaster reactions: The influence of exposure and personal characteristics. Current Psychiatry Reports, 17(7), 56-62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-014-0462-x
25. Phillips, B. D. & Morrow, B. H. (2007). Social science research needs: Focus on vulnerable populations, forecasting, and warnings. Natural Hazards Review, 8(3), 61–68. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1527-6988(2007)8:3(61)
26. Pierson, J. & Thomas, M. (2002). Collins dictionary of social work (2. b.). Harper Collins.
27. Pynoos, R. S., Steinberg, A. M., & Piacentini, J. C. (1999). A developmental psychopathology model of childhood traumatic stress and intersection with anxiety disorders. Biological Psychiatry, 46(11), 1542–1554. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3223(99)00262-0
28. Ranghieri, F. & Ishiwatari, M. (2014). Learning from megadisasters: Lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake. World Bank.
29. Ronoh, S., Gaillard, J., & Marlowe, J. (2015). Children with disabilities and disaster preparedness: A case study of Christchurch. Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 10(2), 91–102.
30. Rusmana, N., Hafina, A., & Suryana, D. (2020). Group play therapy for preadolescents: Post-traumatic stress disorder of natural disaster victims in Indonesia. The Open Psychology Journal, 13(1), 213–222. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874350102013010213
31. Salcıoğlu, E. & Başoğlu, M. (2008). Psychological effects of earthquakes in children: Prospects for brief behavioral treatment. World Journal of Pediatrics, 4(3), 165–172.
32. Stough, L. M., Sharp, A. N., Resch, J. A., Decker, C., & Wilker, N. (2016). Barriers to the long-term recovery of individuals with disabilities following a disaster. Disasters, 40(3), 387–410. https://doi.org/10.1111/disa.12161
33. Şahin, C. H. & Kaya, A. (2025). The experience of parents of children with intellectual disabilities/autism who experienced the Kahramanmaraş earthquake in Türkiye. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 29(2), 404–422. https://doi.org/10.1177/17446295241307409
34. Tanaka, M. & Takahara, A. (2020). Psychosocial effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake on persons with disabilities. The Journal of Rehabilitation Psychology, 46, 25-37.
35. Torani, S., Majd, P. M., Maroufi, S. S., Dowlati, M., & Sheikhi, R. A. (2019). The importance of education on disasters and emergencies: A review article. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 8(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_262_18
36. Triasari, L., Yusuf, A., Sestu-Retno, D. A., Triyana, P. D., & Abidin, Z. (2020). lay Therapy to reduce traumatic stress in earthquake-affected children in North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. International Journal of Nursing and Health Services (IJNHS), 3(1), 133-140.
37. Ürekli, F. (2010). Osmanlı döneminde İstanbul’da meydana gelen âfetlere ilişkin literatür. Türkiye Araştırmaları Literatür Dergisi(16), 101-130.
38. Valenti, M., Ciprietti, T., Egidio, C. D., Gabrielli, M., Masedu, F., Tomassini, A. R. & Sorge, G. (2012). Adaptive response of children and adolescents with autism to the 2009 earthquake in L'Aquila, Italy. J Autism Dev Disord, 42(6), 954-60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1323-9
39. Walsh, F. (2019). Loss and bereavement in families: A systemic framework for recovery and resilience. B. H. Fiese, M. Celano, K. Deater-Deckard, E. N. Jouriles, & M. A. Whisman (Ed.), APA handbook of contemporary family psychology: Foundations, methods, and contemporary issues across the lifespan içinde (s. 649–663). APA. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000099-036
40. WHO. (2008). Manual for the health care of children in humanitarian emergencies. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241596879 sayfasından erişilmiştir.
41. Wong J. H. (2013). Psychosocial recovery for children disabled in an earthquake: school social work in Dujiangyan, China. Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation, 12(1-2), 102–115. https://doi.org/10.1080/1536710X.2013.784561
42. Wood, J. M., Bootzin, R. R., Rosenhan, D., Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Jourden, F. (1992). Effects of the 1989 San Francisco earthquake on frequency and content of nightmares. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 101(2), 219–224. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.101.2.219
43. Yıldırım, A. & Şimşek, H. (2008). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri (6. b.). Seçkin.
44. Yılmaz, Y. & Bahadır, E. (2025). Post-earthquake PTSD: Identifying key risk factors eleven months after the February 2023 Turkey earthquakes. Cumhuriyet Medical Journal, 47(1), 32–40. https://doi.org/10.7197/cmj.1392301
45. Yorulmaz, D. S. & Karadeniz, H. (2021). Afetlerin mental sağlığa etkileri. Doğal Afet Çevre Dergisi, 7(2), 392-398.
46. Yuliani, E., Sastriani, Irfan, Mursid, A., Muzdalia, I., & Hasriati. (2022). Playing therapy can reduce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in post-earthquake children. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Studies, 5(06), 83–90. https://doi.org/10.33826/ijmras/v05i06.6