Psychological Well‐Being as a Mediator Between Social Support and Posttraumatic Stress After 2023 Turkey Earthquakes

Abstract

There is evidence that the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake may have devastating short‐ and long‐term effects on overall mental health. This longitudinal study aimed to examine whether university students who experienced at least one of two major earthquakes occurring on the same day perceived different types of social support (family, friends, and significant others) approximately 8 months after the event, and whether these sources were associated with lower levels of posttraumatic stress (PTSD) over time through psychological well‐being (PWB). Data were collected at three measurement points (T1, T2, T3) at approximately three‐ to four‐month intervals. Analyses were conducted on 341 university students ( M  = 21.25 years; SD  = 2.22 years) who completed all three waves of the study. Findings showed that only “family support” predicted higher levels of PWB, which, in turn, was associated with lower levels of PTSD symptoms. These results emphasize the importance of considering the positive impact of family support on the health of earthquake survivors over time, highlighting its potentially supportive role during difficult periods.