Post-disaster psychological effects: identifying earthquake-induced trauma in athletes

Natural disasters not only cause physical destruction but also lead to various psychological problems affecting the mental health of individuals. This study was conducted to determine the levels of post-earthquake trauma in athletes who experienced earthquakes and whether certain variables made a difference in this situation. The sample of the study consisted of 359 athletes living in 11 provinces affected by the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey, on February 6, 2023. Participants were reached using the Snowball Sampling Method. The Sociodemographic Information Form and the Post-Earthquake Trauma Level Determination Scale were used to collect data. As a result of the descriptive statistics, it was seen that athletes experienced above-average earthquake trauma (M = 65.84). When examined in terms of sociodemographic variables, it was found that women showed more symptoms of earthquake trauma than men, those who experienced the loss of relatives showed more symptoms than those who did not, and those who experienced the loss of a home showed more symptoms than those who did not. In conclusion, while exercise and physical activity are methods used to cope with trauma, being an athlete alone is not sufficient to cope with earthquake trauma. Women, whether athletes or not, experience more earthquake trauma than men. Losing relatives exacerbates the trauma caused by the earthquake. Furthermore, the loss of a home, which prevents individuals from meeting some basic physiological needs, is a significant factor in earthquake trauma.