After Kahramanmaras earthquake in Turkey: perceived social support, sense of coherence and state hope


YALNIZCA YILDIRIM S.

Current Psychology, 2024 (SSCI) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s12144-024-06941-2
  • Journal Name: Current Psychology
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, BIOSIS, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, Psycinfo
  • Keywords: Earthquake, Hope, Natural Disaster, Perceived Social Support, Sense of Coherence, Turkey
  • Çukurova University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The importance of maintaining hope for individuals affected by natural disasters is often stated. This study investigated the mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between sense of coherence and state hope in individuals affected by the earthquake in February 2023, centered in Kahramanmaraş province of Turkey. The study sample consisted of 323 adults affected by the earthquake in Turkey. Data were collected four months after the earthquake. The study used analyses utilizing hierarchical multiple regression and Hayes’ bootstrapping approach (PROCESS; Preacher & Hayes, 2008). The bootstrapping regression method was conducted to determine the mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between sense of coherence and hope. Correlation analysis results showed a positive relationship between sense of coherence and perceived social support and hope. The results of the bootstrapping that was performed to analyze the mediating role of perceived social support showed that perceived social support had a partial role in the relationship between sense of coherence and state hope. The results reveal that it is important for people affected by the earthquake to find life meaningful, understandable, and manageable and to maintain their hopes for life with perceived social support. Determination of the psychological needs of the people affected by the earthquake is considered to enable the psycho-social support activities to be organized according to their needs. The findings were discussed in light of previous studies, and recommendations were made for future studies.