Psychological effects of earthquakes on individuals without a history of potentially traumatic events: A 1-year longitudinal qualitative study

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the psychological effects of earthquakes on individuals with no history of direct potential traumatic events, their changes over time, and the influencing factors. A longitudinal qualitative design was used in the study. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with 14 participants. Interviews were conducted three times over 1 year: face-to-face (T0) and online video interviews (T1 and T2). MAXQDA Plus 10 qualitative research software was used for data and content analysis. It was observed that participants exhibited anxiety, physiological stress symptoms, and feelings of low self-efficacy after the earthquake. The frequency of these symptoms increased at T1, while at T2, the frequencies were lower than at T0, and some symptoms were no longer present. These symptoms were influenced by internal/external coping resources and psychosocial support, with the frequency of these factors varying at T0, T1, and T2.