The Psycho-Social Effect of The Earthquake on Women in The Eartquake, One of The Disadvantaged Groups: a Qualitative Research

Abstract

Disasters are natural events that vary in severity and impact depending on the location. Disasters damage buildings, products, crops, the environment, people, animals, in short, everything animate and inanimate, and cause living beings to lose their lives regardless of time and place. Individuals are psychologically affected negatively by disasters such as earthquakes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the psycho-social impact of the earthquake that occurred in Kahramanmaras in southeast Turkey on February 6, 2023, on women, one of the disadvantaged groups, in Turkey. As a result of the research, it was understood that the last earthquake disaster in Turkey had a significant impact on women, and how important psychological resilience is in being prepared for disasters. According to the results of the research, it was seen that women had difficulties in coping with the problems they faced during and after the earthquake, they faced stress/depression/anxiety, burnout and the regional conditions had a significant impact on this process. In this direction, it was observed that the earthquake negatively affected the women participating in the research, causing their psychological health disorders and causing depression symptoms.