Hope and optimism as predictors of post-traumatic growth in earthquake-stricken students

In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between the level of post-traumatic growth and the levels of hope and optimism of high school students who experienced the 6th of February earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş. In this study, correlational research method, one of the quantitative research methods, was preferred as a method. In the process of choosing the high school students participating in the research, the convenience sampling method was used among the sampling methods. 490 (245 female, 245 male) high school students continuing their education in Göksun, the district of Kahramanmaraş, in the spring semester of the 2023-2024 Academic Year, participated in the study. 137 (28%) of the participants were science high school students, 137 (28%) of the participants were Anatolian high school students, 123 (25.1%) of the participants were Anatolian imam hatip high school students, and 93 of the participants were vocational and technical Anatolian high school students. Additionally, 123 (25.1%) of the participants were 9th grade, 117 (23.9%) of the participants were 10th grade, 129 (26.3%) of the participants were 11th grade, and 121 (24.7%) of the participants were 12th grade students. Independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance and hierarchical regression analyses were used while analyzing the data. According to the findings of the study, the level of post-traumatic growth does not show a significant difference according to gender, school type, grade level, injury in the earthquake, bereavement, damage to the house, current housing status and income status (p>.05). There is a positive moderate relationship (.49) between students' optimism levels and post-traumatic growth levels, a positive moderate relationship (.50) between hope levels and post-traumatic growth levels, and a positive moderate relationship (.47) between optimism and hope levels. According to the findings of the hierarchical regression analysis, hope explains 25% of post-traumatic growth, while optimism explains 9% of post-traumatic growth. Both variables together explained 34% of the post-traumatic growth level. According to these findings, the post-traumatic growth levels of high school students after the 6th of February earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş can be explained by hope and optimism.