Track papers across labs, topics, and trends.
Search papers, labs, and topics across Lattice.
Background: Rescue workers responding to major disasters are at increased risk of adverse psychological outcomes, including depression, anxiety, stress, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. However, limited longitudinal data exist regarding their mental health, resilience, and posttraumatic growth following the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes. Methods: This study examines the changes in depression, anxiety, stress, and posttraumatic stress levels of search and rescue workers 1 and 6 months after the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes on February 6, 2023. Additionally, the study explores the levels of psychological resilience and posttraumatic growth. This longitudinal follow-up study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire which included the Impact of Events Scale (IES-R) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale – 21 Items (DASS-21). The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) were added to the six-month review. Results: A total of 34 rescue workers were enrolled in the final analysis. There were no differences in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, depression, anxiety, and stress levels among rescue workers after 1 and 6 months. A significant and moderate correlation was found between Depression, Anxiety, IES-R, PTGI and BRS scores, between the IES-R scale and PTGI. Conclusion: The findings highlight the ongoing psychological burden experienced by rescue workers following disaster response operations and underscore the need for interventions aimed at improving their psychological well-being.