Psychological Resilience and Stress Symptoms in Health Care Workers after the 2023 Kahramanmaras Earthquake

Strategic Insights -

A recent study conducted by researchers at the Faculty of Medicine has shed light on the psychological resilience and stress symptoms experienced by health care workers following the devastating 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquake in Turkey. The research, published in the Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness journal, aimed to assess the psychological resilience and stress symptoms in a sample of 313 health care workers who witnessed the disaster. The study used a descriptive and correlational design, collecting data through the Sociodemographic Data Form, Brief Psychological Resilience Scale (BPRS), and Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale-5 (TSSS-5). The findings revealed that a significant proportion of health care workers experienced stress symptoms, with 39.6% diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and 41.2% considering leaving their jobs after the earthquake.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found a significant correlation between the participants' BPRS scores and TSSS-5 scores (ρ = -0.523, p = 0.00), indicating a negative relationship between psychological resilience and traumatic stress symptoms.
  • 79.9% of health care workers reported a decrease in job motivation (slight or a lot) following the earthquake.
  • The research suggested that traumatic stress symptoms diminished as the level of psychological resilience increased in health care workers who experienced the earthquake.
  • The study highlights the importance of providing support and resources to health care workers who have experienced traumatic events.
  • The research was conducted with a sample size of 313 health care workers who experienced the earthquake.
  • The study used a descriptive and correlational design, collecting data through the Sociodemographic Data Form, Brief Psychological Resilience Scale (BPRS), and Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale-5 (TSSS-5).
  • The facility of the research was provided by the Faculty of Medicine, and the cooperation of the researchers Kerim Ugur, Hatice Polat, and Tunahan Sun was valuable for this study.

Statistics:

  • 39.6% of health care workers were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • 41.2% of participants considered leaving their jobs after the earthquake.
  • 79.9% reported a decrease in job motivation (slight or a lot).
  • The correlation between the participants' BPRS scores and TSSS-5 scores was ρ = -0.523, p = 0.00.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. New Psychology and Psychiatry Study Findings Have Been Reported by Researchers at Faculty of Medicine (Assessing Psychological Resilience and Stress Symptoms in Health Care Workers Following the 2023 Kahramanmaras Earthquake). Psychology & Psychiatry Journal. September 6, 2025; p 3650.
  • Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. Assessing Psychological Resilience and Stress Symptoms in Health Care Workers Following the 2023 Kahramanmaras Earthquake. 2025;19.