Investigation of the relationship between psychological resilience and traumatic growth in adults after the February 6 Kahramanmaraş earthquake

Earthquakes not only cause physical damage but also profoundly affect individuals' psychological well-being. The destruction of safe environments undermines people's trust in the world. Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) refers to positive changes and personal development that occur following extremely stressful events. PTG comprises five dimensions: personal empowerment, deepening relationships, new possibilities, increased appreciation of life, and spiritual change. The Kahramanmaraş earthquake (February 6, 2023) resulted in significant losses across 11 provinces. This study aims to examine the relationship between PTG and psychological resilience among 209 adults living in Adana and Hatay. The scales employed in this research include the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, Psychological Resilience Scales for Adults and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Given the normal distribution of the data, Independent Samples T-Test and ANOVA tests were applied. Of the participants, 62.7% were female and 37.3% were male. 28.7% resided in Hatay, while 71.3% lived in Adana. The proportion of those who did not lose loved ones was 48.8%, whereas 24.4% lost significant individuals outside their family. 78.9% did not participate in debris removal efforts, and 91.4% indicated that they were not trapped under rubble. The research findings reveal a significant relationship between psychological resilience and PTG, demonstrating that an increase in psychological resilience enhances PTG. Additionally, individuals who did not engage in search and rescue activities exhibited higher levels of PTG.