Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression Among Earthquake Survivors One Year After the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake

On February 6, 2023, two major earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 struck Kahramanmaraş, Turkey. Survivors of these earthquakes are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. This study aims to evaluate the post-traumatic stress symptoms, depressive symptoms, and associated factors among survivors one year after the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. This descriptive study was conducted with 451 earthquake survivors in 11 provinces affected by the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes between March 20 and May 30, 2024. The data were collected using the “Demographic Form” and the “Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale.” Earthquake survivors exhibited above-average levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms, which were accompanied by symptoms of depression. It was found that demographic and earthquake exposure characteristics were significantly associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms. Demographic and earthquake exposure characteristics explained 35.6% of the variance in post-traumatic stress symptoms. In light of these results, earthquake survivors should be monitored for post-traumatic stress symptoms and depression not only in the short term but also in the long term by mental health professionals.