The Relationship Between Earthquake-Related Secondary Traumatic Stress, Earthquake Anxiety, and Depression: Traditional Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35365/eass.25.3.04Keywords:
Earthquake, Secondary traumatic stress, Earthquake anxiety, DepressionAbstract
Earthquakes are complex disasters that cause not only physical destruction but also significant psychological effects. While individuals directly affected often experience post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression, those indirectly exposed to earthquake-related news or narratives may develop secondary traumatic stress. This study employed a traditional literature review to examine the relationship between earthquake-related secondary traumatic stress, earthquake anxiety, and depression. The review, conducted through Google Scholar, DergiPark Academic, PubMed, and the National Thesis Center using the keywords “earthquake,” “secondary traumatic stress,” “earthquake anxiety,” and “depression,” is based on seven studies conducted in Turkey. Findings indicate significant positive relationships among secondary traumatic stress, earthquake anxiety, and depression. Secondary traumatic stress was found to exacerbate both anxiety and depression, with all three variables mutually influencing each other. Post-disaster factors such as uncertainty, loss of control, expectation of future earthquakes, and witnessing the experiences of affected individuals can contribute to psychological distress even in those not directly affected. These findings highlight the need for post-disaster psychosocial interventions to address both directly and indirectly affected populations.
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