The relationship between post-traumatic stress and eating disorders in disaster survivors: a sample of February 2023...

Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, can lead to severe psychological distress, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) being one of the most common mental health consequences among survivors. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to examine the relationship between PTSD and eating disorder symptoms in disaster survivors affected by the February 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. The study included 125 participants. The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5) and Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) were administered, and data on dietary habits, anthropometric values, and demographic characteristics were collected. SPSS 26.0 was used for statistical analyses. More than half of the participants (50.4%) were found to have PTSD. The mean PTSD score was 45.2 ± 18.1, and the mean score for eating disorder symptoms was 1.5 ± 1.3. A moderate positive correlation was found between PTSD and eating disorder symptoms (r = 0.455, p < 0.01). As PTSD symptoms increased, the risk of disordered eating significantly increased (p < 0.05). Females showed higher levels of PTSD and eating disorder symptoms compared to males. Increases in eating disorder symptoms were also associated with higher BMI (p < 0.05). In conclusion, it was observed that changes in eating behaviors and body composition in the post-disaster period were associated with eating disorder symptoms and PTSD. These findings highlight the need for integrated psychosocial and nutritional support strategies in disaster response, emphasizing the importance of addressing both mental and nutritional health in affected populations.