DOI: 10.54005/geneltip.1906928 ISSN: 2602-3741

After the February 6, 2023 Earthquake: Psychosocial and Health-Related Coping Strategies Among Displaced Families in Konya

Hurigül Eken
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Aim: This study examines the post-disaster adaptation and psychosocial and health-related coping strategies of families who migrated to Konya following the February 6, 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye.Material and Method: A qualitative phenomenological design was used. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 30 adults who had been directly affected by the earthquakes and had relocated to Konya; participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling. The data were analyzed thematically using MAXQDA 2022 software.Results: Migration decisions were shaped mainly by kinship and acquaintance networks (n=21), the need for a safer city (n=17), and expectations of employment (n=14). Participants reported considerable challenges in accessing housing and stable income during the early stages of relocation. Only six participants received rent assistance from the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), whereas support from relatives and social networks (n=30) and non-governmental organizations (n=27) played a decisive role in adaptation. Anxiety and fear (n=29), sleep problems (n=23), and loneliness (n=22) were common in the initial period. However, family solidarity, children’s adaptation to school, and re-engagement in economic activities contributed to gradual recovery and resilience; participants without child-care responsibilities relied on alternative channels such as neighborhood, mosque, vocational course, and workplace networks.Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of strengthening accessible psychosocial, health-related, and community-based support mechanisms and formal assistance for disaster-affected populations resettled outside the disaster region.

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