The Deadly Mati Wildfire in Greece: Long-Term Psychosocial Impact on Adolescents

The Mati wildfire on July 23, 2018, was the deadliest in Europe and the second deadliest globally in the 21st century. Beyond its devastating human and material losses, concerns arose regarding its long-term psychosocial effects on adolescents. This study assessed the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), emotional and behavioral difficulties, and high sleep problems in adolescents 10 months post-disaster, identifying associated disaster-related exposures and sociodemographic factors. In May 2019, 393 adolescents (mean age 14.3 years; 61.2% girls) from Nea Makri and Rafina participated in a cross-sectional survey. Participants completed questionnaires on socioeconomic status, wildfire-related exposure, PTSD, emotional/behavioral problems, social support, and insomnia. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of PTSD and post-fire insomnia. PTSD prevalence was 46.3%, with boys having a 42% lower probability than girls (OR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.35-0.95; p = 0.029). PTSD risk increased significantly among adolescents who had a loved one seriously injured (OR = 1.86; p = 0.043) or trapped (OR = 1.96; p = 0.005). High sleep problems rose from 21.3% pre-fire to 32.3% post-fire (p < 0.001), and were associated with pre-existing insomnia, parental separation, and worry for missing loved ones. Higher levels of social support mitigated emotional difficulties and insomnia. The Mati wildfire had profound psychosocial effects on adolescents, highlighting the need for early intervention, targeted mental health support, and enhanced social systems in post-disaster recovery efforts.