Psychosocial status analysis of adolescents affected by the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake in Türkiye: A...

All people are affected in areas where earthquakes occur. However, the effects on children, one of the most vulnerable groups, are different. This study was conducted to determine the psychosocial problems caused by earthquakes in the adolescent age group.

The study is descriptive and cross-sectional in nature, conducted with 325 adolescents in 6 of the 11 provinces affected by the earthquake, focusing on the most affected areas. The study was conducted between May 2023 and June 2023. The data for the study were collected online using a data collection form and the Event Impact Scale. The study was conducted with adolescents aged 12 to 18. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS 25.0 statistical program.

The average age of adolescents participating in the study was 17.39 ± 1.45. 73.2 % were female, 75.1 % came from families with middle-level income, and 60.9 % were university students. It was determined that 22.8 % of adolescents were caught in the earthquake in Hatay, 21.2 % in Kahramanmaraş, 15.7 % in Adıyaman, 14.5 % in Şanlıurfa, 13.5 % in Gaziantep, and 12.3 % in Kilis. The study found that adolescents' mean scores on the re-experiencing subscale of the Impact of Event Scale were 17.72 ± 7.67, on the avoidance subscale 13.08 ± 5.56, on the hyperarousal subscale 13.04 ± 6.11, and the total mean score was 43.84 ± 16.31.

This study found that adolescents who experienced the February 6 earthquake exhibited significant levels of traumatic stress symptoms in the post-earthquake period. It was determined that participants who were women, those with low or middle income levels, those who lost a loved one in the earthquake, those who were forced to live in vehicles after the earthquake, and those located in provinces with high levels of structural damage experienced higher levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms.

These findings emphasize the critical role of pediatric nurses and mental health professionals in the early identification of post-traumatic stress symptoms among adolescents following disasters. Trauma-informed screening should be integrated into routine adolescent health assessments in disaster-affected regions. Targeted psychosocial interventions, particularly for high-risk groups, are essential to reduce long-term psychological consequences and to support adolescents' recovery and resilience.