6 Months After the Great Earthquake: 2023 Turkey Earthquake News and its Impact on Anxiety Levels and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Adolescents

Year 2024, Volume: 18 Issue: 1, 81 - 92, 12.03.2024

Abdullah Sarman Suat Tuncay

https://doi.org/10.21763/tjfmpc.1340469

Abstract

Introduction: Earthquakes and their aftermath can lead to widespread health issues, with anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder being among the most common psychological reactions observed after such events. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between earthquake news exposure and anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in adolescents, as well as the potential risk factors that mediate this relationship.
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted six months after the earthquake, focusing on high school students residing in a region in eastern Türkiye. A total of 487 adolescents participated in the study, and face-to-face interviews were conducted using the cluster sampling method. Structural equation model analysis was employed to evaluate the role of anxiety in trauma stress symptoms.
Results: The study found that the anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptom scores of adolescents were at a moderate level. Furthermore, anxiety was found to significantly influence posttraumatic stress symptoms. Participants who had chronic or psychiatric illnesses, had a relative trapped under debris or injured during the earthquake, constantly worried about the possibility of another earthquake, or frequently watched earthquake-related news or broadcasts displayed higher levels of anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms.
Conclusion: Inappropriate news content and broadcasts can impact children and adolescents' mental well-being. Parents must monitor the news channels and social media content their children consume, especially in the aftermath of an earthquake. Additionally, targeted, and appropriate psychosocial interventions should be provided to adolescents affected by natural disasters, particularly those at higher risk of developing mental health issues such as anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms.

Keywords

Earthquake, Adolescent, Anxiety, Posttraumatic Stress

Project Number

-

Büyük Depremden 6 Ay Sonra: 2023 Türkiye Depremiyle İlgili Haberlerin ve Diğer Durumların Ergenlerde Kaygı Düzeyi ve Travma Sonrası Stres Bozukluğu Belirtileriyle İlişkisi

Abstract

Giriş: Depremler ve oluşturduğu etkiler küresel sağlık sorunlarına neden olmaktadır. Kaygı ve travma sonrası stres bozukluğu depremlerin ardından görülen en yaygın olumsuz psikolojik tepki olarak kabul edilmektedir. Bu araştırmada deprem haberlerinin ergenlerde kaygı ve travma sonrası stres bozukluğu belirtileriyle ilişkisi ve bu ilişkiye aracılık eden risk faktörlerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır.
Yöntem: Kesitsel-tanımlayıcı modeldeki bu çalışma, depremden altı ay sonra Türkiye'nin doğusunda yer alan bir bölgedeki lise öğrencileriyle yürütülmüştür. Küme örnekleme yöntemiyle yüz yüze görüşme tekniğinin kullanıldığı araştırmaya 487 ergen katılmıştır. Kaygının travma stres belirtileri üzerindeki rolünü değerlendirmek amacıyla yapısal eşitlik modeli analizi kullanılmıştır.
Bulgular: Ergenlerin kaygı ve travma sonrası stres belirtileri puanlarının orta düzeyde olduğu belirlenmiştir. Kaygının travma sonrası stres belirtilerini etkilediği, kronik veya psikiyatrik hastalığı olanların, daha önce enkaz altında kalan veya yaralanan herhangi bir yakını olanların, sürekli olarak deprem olacağı endişesi taşıyanların, depremle ilgili haber veya yayınları izleyenlerin kaygı ve travma sonrası stres puanları yüksek bulunmuştur.
Sonuç: Uygun olmayan haber içerikleri ve yayınların çocuk ve ergenleri etkileyebileceği unutulmamalıdır. Ebeveynlerin özellikle deprem sonrası haber kanalları ve sosyal medyada çocuklarının izlediği içerikleri kontrol etmesi önemlidir. Doğal afetlerden etkilenen ergenlere, özellikle kaygı ve travma sonrası stres belirtileri gibi ruhsal problemler açısından yüksek risk taşıyanlara, bireyselleştirilmiş ve uygun psikososyal müdahaleler verilmelidir.

Keywords

Deprem, Ergen, Kaygı, Travma Sonrası Stres

Supporting Institution

-

Project Number

-

Thanks

Araştırmaya katılan tüm ergenlere teşekkür ediyoruz.

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