The relationship between social media use and anxiety levels of aid workers with secondary traumatic symptoms after a disaster

The aim of the study is to examine whether there is a relationship between social media use and anxiety levels of aid workers with secondary traumatic symptoms after a disaster. A total of 280 participants, 138 women and 142 men, participated the research sample. According to the findings, secondary traumatic stress, depression, anxiety and stress symptoms were detected in post-disaster aid workers, and it was found that female workers experienced these symptoms at higher levels. As data collection tools, Demographic Information Form, "Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (TSS)" and "Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS42)" were applied to aid workers who went to the disaster area. Within the scope of the study, Independent Sample t-test, One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation, Multiple Linear Regression and Chi-Square analyses were used to analyze the findings of the variables. At the same time, it was also found that the levels of secondary traumatic stress, anxiety, depression and stress experienced by post-disaster relief workers increased with the increase in the time spent working in the earthquake zone. It was found that the secondary traumatic stress, depression, anxiety and stress scores of aid workers who spent more than 4 hours on social media were higher than the groups who used social media less. In the literature, studies examining the variables of secondary traumatic stress, social media use and anxiety in post-disaster aid workers together are limited. It is thought that this thesis study, in which these variables are examined together, will contribute to the literature on the determination of related factors, prevention of symptoms in aid workers and intervention studies.