Experiences of coping with secondary trauma of female employees working in the February 6 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes

There are many events that threaten the physical and social environment in which people live, and among them, disasters stand out with their destructive consequences. Disasters, whether natural or man-made, interrupt normal life and activities, cause serious harm and losses, and deeply affect the social order. Due to the large-scale destruction they cause, they require immediate intervention and long-term recovery. In Turkey, which is located in a geologically risky zone, earthquakes are observed to be the most impactful natural disasters. As seen in the "Disaster of the Century" that occurred on February 6, 2023, at 04:17 a.m., earthquakes result in widespread psychological consequences that are not limited to victims or field workers, but spread across the entire nation. In this context, the aim of this study is to examine the coping skills of female employees working in disaster zones with secondary trauma following the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes of February 6, 2023. This study was conducted using a qualitative research method with a phenomenological design. A semi-structured interview form was used as a data collection tool. Snowball sampling method was employed to reach 15 female participants working in various institutions. Before the interviews, participants were informed about the research in detail, their verbal consent was obtained, and audio recordings were taken with their permission. These recordings were transcribed and analyzed using the Maxqda program. The data were coded through thematic analysis and grouped under six main themes. The findings indicate that female employees faced intense emotional, physical, and social difficulties during their work in the disaster zone. However, they managed the process relatively more effectively through personal coping strategies and social support mechanisms. Additionally, lack of preparedness before deployment, poor coordination in the field, and insufficient support after returning from the disaster area were found to exacerbate secondary trauma. The study emphasizes the need for training of personnel assigned to disaster zones, increased access to psychosocial support services, consideration of the specific needs of female employees, and the construction of a comprehensive support system throughout the assignment process. The results of the study are intended to contribute to the development of effective social policies for improving post-disaster services and empowering female workers.