Psychological impact of the February 6 earthquake on displaced individuals with proximal loss residing in temporary shelters

The present study examines the psychological effects of the earthquake that occurred in Turkey on 6 February 2023 on individuals residing in temporary shelters who have experienced losses in their immediate surroundings. The objective of the present research is to elucidate the relationships between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and the subjective impact of the traumatic event. Nine months following the disaster, a survey was conducted among 923 adults aged 25 to 60 residing in temporary shelters in Antakya. Participants completed a series of validated and reliable measurement tools, including the DSM-5 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Impact of Events Scale (IES). The findings indicate significant and positive correlations between PTSD and all other variables, including the impact of the event, depression and anxiety. The multiple regression analysis revealed that these three variables significantly predicted PTSD symptoms and collectively explained 41% of the variance in PTSD levels. This study emphasizes the cumulative psychological impact of forced displacement and close losses on individuals and underscores the pressing need for culturally sensitive and trauma-informed mental health services in post-disaster intervention processes. The findings contribute to the understanding of trauma dynamics in post-disaster communities and guide the development of targeted mental health policies and psychosocial support programs.