Reflection of children's earthquake perceptions on drawings

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Disaster Psychiatry
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• The 2023 Turkey earthquake severely impacted children, necessitating effective psychosocial support strategies.
• Children often struggle to verbalize trauma, making alternative expression methods crucial for assessing needs.
• Drawing provides a vital outlet for children to communicate their experiences and emotional states post-disaster.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the disaster experiences of children aged 8-13 in Hatay, Turkey, following the 2023 earthquake.
• To identify the psychosocial support needs of these children through their artistic expressions.
• To inform the development of age-appropriate psychosocial interventions for child survivors of natural disasters.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive qualitative design utilizing purposive and snowball sampling.
• Inclusion of 16 children aged 8-13 from Hatay, Turkey, who drew their experiences.
• Thematic analysis of drawings to identify recurring themes, adhering to COREQ guidelines.

Main Results:

• Five key themes emerged from children's drawings: death and physical damage, damaging natural events, rescue and assistance, precaution and resilience, and starting over.
• Drawings offered insights into children's perceptions of danger, safety, and coping mechanisms.
• Artistic expression facilitated a deeper understanding of children's unique post-earthquake challenges.

Conclusions:

• Children's drawings are a valuable tool for understanding their disaster experiences and psychosocial needs.
• Tailored, age-appropriate psychosocial interventions can significantly aid children's adaptation and recovery post-earthquake.
• This study highlights the importance of integrating creative arts into disaster mental health support for children.