Investigating the relationship between the purpose and meaning of life, early maladaptive schemas, and post-traumatic growth in individuals who experienced loss in the February 6 earthquake

This study examines the relationships between the purpose and meaning of life, early maladaptive schemas, and post-traumatic growth in individuals who experienced loss during the February 6 earthquake. The sample of the research consists of 304 earthquake survivors from Turkey, including 135 individuals who experienced loss and 169 who did not, all of whom voluntarily participated in the study. The data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Purpose in Life Test, the Young Schema Questionnaire, and the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory. A relational survey model was used for data analysis, and the variables were examined using SPSS to explore the relationships among them. The findings were then discussed and evaluated in light of the existing literature. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the relationships between the purpose and meaning of life, early maladaptive schemas, and post-traumatic growth vary depending on whether the individual experienced loss or not during the earthquake. The findings of this study reveal that traumatic events lead to profound changes in individuals' psychological processes, with early maladaptive schemas and perceptions of the purpose and meaning of life playing a significant role in these processes. Furthermore, it was found that the developmental processes individuals experience following trauma are closely related to their sense of meaning and purpose in life.