Earthquake and Qualıty of Life: an Evaluation on Elderly Individuals

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 1 Sayı: 1, 26 - 30, 30.01.2025

Esin Sapçı

Öz

Earthquakes can negatively affect the quality of life of elderly individuals in terms of physical health,
psychological recovery and social relationships. Physical health problems, difficulties brought about by aging and
traumas caused by earthquakes make the recovery process of these individuals more difficult and reduce their
quality of life. In addition, the psychological effects of earthquakes can trigger feelings such as stress and trauma,
making the psychological recovery process of elderly individuals longer and more difficult. The feeling of social
isolation and loneliness experienced after an earthquake, especially when combined with the lack of social support
of elderly individuals, can further negatively affect their psychological health. Inadequate housing conditions and
the insecurity provided by temporary accommodation areas can disrupt the physical and psychological recovery
processes of elderly individuals. Lack of comfort and security concerns in these temporary living spaces can
prevent elderly people from recovering quickly. In this context, it is of great importance to develop effective
strategies at the national level so that the quality of life of elderly individuals is not negatively affected by
earthquakes.
The purpose of this review is to draw attention to the impact of earthquakes on the quality of life of elderly
individuals and to lay the foundation for future research.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Earthquake, Elderly Individual, Quality of Life, Public Health

Deprem ve Yaşam Kalitesi: Yaşlı Bireyler Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme

Öz

Depremler, yaşlı bireylerin yaşam kalitesini fiziksel sağlık, psikolojik iyileşme ve sosyal ilişkiler açısından
olumsuz etkileyebilmektedir. Fiziksel sağlık sorunları, yaşlanmanın getirdiği zorluklar ve depremin yol açtığı
travmalar, bu bireylerin iyileşme süreçlerini zorlaştırarak yaşam kalitelerini düşürmektedir. Ayrıca depremin
psikolojik etkileri; stres, travma gibi duygularını tetikleyerek yaşlıların psikolojik iyileşme süreçlerini daha uzun
ve zorlu hale getirebilmektedir. Deprem sonrası yaşanan sosyal izolasyon ve yalnızlık hissi, özellikle yaşlı
bireylerin sosyal destek eksiklikleriyle birleşince psikolojik sağlıklarını daha da olumsuz etkileyebilmektedir.
Barınma koşullarındaki yetersizlikler ve geçici konaklama alanlarının sağladığı güvensizlik, yaşlı bireylerin
fiziksel ve psikolojik iyileşme süreçlerini aksatabilmektedir. Bu geçici yaşam alanlarındaki konfor eksiklikleri ve
güvenlik kaygıları, yaşlıların hızlı bir şekilde toparlanmalarını engelleyebilmektedir. Bu kapsamda bakıldığında,
yaşlı bireylerin yaşam kalitesinin depremlerden olumsuz etkilenmemesi için, ulusal düzeyde etkili stratejilerin
geliştirilmesi büyük bir önem taşımaktadır.
Bu derlemenin amacı, depremin yaşlı bireylerin yaşam kalitesine etkisine dikkat çekerek ileride yapılacak araştırmalar için
temel oluşturmaktır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

: Deprem, Yaşlı Birey, Yaşam Kalitesi, Halk Sağlığı

Kaynakça

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