The relationships between posttraumatic stress severity and resilience and perceived social support levels among adolescents who survived the earthquake: the case of Antakya.
Abstract
Purpose
This study examined the relationships among posttraumatic stress symptom severity, resilience, and perceived social support among adolescent survivors of the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes in Antakya, Hatay, Türkiye.
Methods
This school-based cross-sectional study was conducted between November and December 2024 among high school students in Antakya during the 2024-2025 academic year. The sample consisted of 1044 adolescents. Data were collected using the DSM-5 Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Severity Scale-Child Form, the Adolescent Resilience Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with posttraumatic stress symptom severity.
Results
The mean posttraumatic stress symptom severity (PTSSS) score was 12.94 ± 8.29. The family support, adaptation, and perseverance subdimensions of resilience were negatively associated with PTSSS scores, whereas empathy was positively associated with PTSSS scores (p < 0.001). Perceived friend support was negatively associated with PTSSS scores (p < 0.05). Female sex, fragmented family structure, lower income, earthquake-related injury, injury of a nuclear family member, loss of a friend, and witnessing injury or entrapment during the earthquake were associated with higher PTSSS scores (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
Posttraumatic stress symptom severity among adolescent earthquake survivors.
Conclusion
Posttraumatic stress symptom severity among adolescent earthquake survivors was associated with demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, earthquake-related experiences, resilience, and perceived social support. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Post-disaster interventions should focus on strengthening family and peer support, enhancing adaptation and perseverance, and providing early screening and targeted psychosocial support for socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents and those exposed to injury, loss, or traumatic events.