Investigation of psychological resilance and secondary traumatic stress levels of nurses after the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake

This study was conducted to determine the levels of psychological resilience and secondary traumatic stress among nurses after the 2023 Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake, and to examine the relationship between these variables as well as their differences according to sociodemographic and occupational factors. In addition, it was analyzed whether these variables differed significantly in terms of personal characteristics such as age, gender, marital status, educational level, and having children, and occupational factors such as the clinical unit of employment, having received disaster training, length of professional seniority, and disaster experience. Psychological resilience was defined as the individual's capacity to cope with stressful and traumatic situations, while secondary traumatic stress was considered as a set of symptoms resulting from indirect exposure to the traumas of others. The research was carried out with nurses working at Kahramanmaraş Necip Fazıl City Hospital through face-to-face survey methods, and data were collected using a Questionnaire Form, the Psychological Resilience Scale, and the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale. The findings revealed that psychological resilience negatively predicted the overall stress level, but there were positive relationships between the "intrusion" sub-dimension and the sub-dimensions of resilience. Sociodemographic variables such as age, education, and marital status significantly affected psychological resilience, whereas occupational variables such as the clinical unit and disaster experience significantly influenced secondary traumatic stress. As a result, although psychological resilience is protective in coping with general stress, high dedication may increase some traumatic symptoms. In this context, multidimensional intervention programs including empathy management, disaster preparedness, and organizational support for nurses are recommended.