What the study found
The study found that hopelessness mediated the relationship between psychological resilience and posttraumatic embitterment symptoms (PTED, a form of embitterment after trauma) in survivors of the February 6 Turkey earthquakes. Nearly half of the sample showed PTED symptoms.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that PTED should be considered among the psychological outcomes of earthquakes. They also suggest that hope-based interventions and preventive measures for vulnerable populations may be useful, and that the findings can guide post-disaster mental health services and health policy.
What the researchers tested
This was a cross-sectional online study in Malatya, a severely affected region, conducted from July 20, 2023 to January 20, 2024. Participants completed the PTED Scale, the Psychological Resilience Scale, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and a sociodemographic form, and the data were analyzed with structural equation modeling.
What worked and what didn't
In the final sample of 801 participants, mean age 37.82 years, 48.6% had PTED symptoms. Hopelessness was found to mediate the relationship between psychological resilience and embitterment, and psychological resilience plus hopelessness accounted for 43.7% of the variance in embitterment.
What to keep in mind
The study used a cross-sectional online design, so the abstract does not describe changes over time or causal effects. Other limitations are not described in the available summary.
Key points
- The study examined earthquake survivors in Malatya after the February 6 Turkey earthquakes.
- Hopelessness mediated the relationship between psychological resilience and posttraumatic embitterment symptoms.
- 48.6% of the 801 participants showed PTED symptoms.
- Psychological resilience and hopelessness together explained 43.7% of the variance in embitterment.
- The authors suggest hope-based interventions and preventive measures for vulnerable populations.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Hopelessness linked psychological resilience to embitterment after earthquakes
- Authors:
- Mustafa Akan, Suheyla Unal, Feyza İnceoğlu
- Institutions:
- Bursa Technical University, Bursa Technical University, Malatya Turgut Özal Üniversitesi, Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi, Turgut Özal University
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-07
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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