After the 2023 Earthquake in Turkiye: An Assessment of Post-Earthquake Psychological Resilience in Children and Adolescents - A Systematic Review

• Published in: Journal of Clinical Practice & Research 2024, Vol.45 (6), p.539-548
• Main Author: Gül, Melike Kevser
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Earthquakes; Mental disorders; Mental health; Teenagers
• ISSN: 2980-2156; 2980-2156
• DOI: 10.14744/cpr.2023.14633

Psychiatric disorders can be observed in children and adolescents following an earthquake, with both risk factors and protective factors influencing the development of these disorders. This review aims to compile studies examining the relationship between earthquakes and resilience in children and adolescents after the earthquake disaster in Türkiye. 113 articles were identified using the PubMed database and relevant keywords. After excluding irrelevant studies, 24 that were related to the topic were included in the review. 66.6% of the studies were conducted in China, with 41.6% of total studies having a longitudinal design. In our country, no study was found in this context. Resilience levels were lower in females than males. Resilience was found to be protective against depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, and was positively correlated with social support. High resilience was also associated with significant posttraumatic growth. However, it is not conclusive that all therapy and intervention programs related to resilience are effective. Protecting the mental health of children and adolescents, who are vulnerable and exposed to dangers following an earthquake, is crucial. Identifying protective factors for mental health, particularly resilience, and developing intervention methods for routine and field use to enhance resilience are vital to prevent the development of mental illnesses.