This study was conducted to determine the relationship between loneliness and social support in adolescents affected by the earthquake.

This descriptive correlational study was conducted in April-May 2023 with 549 adolescents aged 12-18 living in 11 provinces affected by the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake in Turkey. In this study, the snowball sampling method was used. Data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support.

Statistical analyses included independent t-test, one-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey HSD and Dunnett’s tests, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis.

Most adolescents were significantly affected by the earthquake. Their loneliness score was below average, while their perceived social support score was above average. There was a significant negative relationship between loneliness and perceived social support. Key factors influencing loneliness included satisfaction with current living conditions, loss of relatives, and feelings of loneliness post-earthquake.

The findings highlight the critical role of social support in reducing loneliness among adolescents affected by the earthquake. Enhancing social support networks and addressing factors such as living conditions and loss experiences are crucial for improving the psychological well-being of disaster-affected adolescents.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are among the most prevalent mental health sequelae in children and adolescents following earthquakes. A recently introduced metric under network theories of psychopathology, network temperature, quantifies the global stability of a symptom network.

To examine the developmental trajectory of network temperature in children and adolescents after earthquakes, we established eight prospective cohorts (2–4 waves per cohort; total N = 5,794) after the Wenchuan, Yaan, and Jiuzhaigou earthquakes. We assessed PTSD symptoms across three postdisaster periods: early (≤2.5 years), middle (3.5–5.5 years), and late (8.5–10 years).

PTSD symptom network temperatures decreased across all eight cohorts. In the early post-Wenchuan period, adolescents declined more slowly than children. Across earthquakes, the early-period decline in children was faster after the Wenchuan earthquake than after the Yaan earthquake; for adolescents, the early-period decline rate followed the order Wenchuan < Jiuzhaigou < Yaan. Across post-earthquake periods, Wenchuan adolescents declined more slowly in the early period than in the middle/late period, whereas Yaan adolescents declined faster in the early period than in the middle period.

Across all earthquake types and post-earthquake periods, the PTSD symptom network system became increasingly stable and resistant to change. These findings underscore the necessity of early intervention alongside efforts to prevent deterioration. However, the rate of this decline varied by sample (children versus adolescents), earthquake, and post-earthquake period. Clinically, this calls for intervention strategies that are adjusted according to these factors.

To evaluate the mental health of play-age children affected by the 2023 Türkiye–Syria earthquakes and their mothers, using single-item scales.

Four hundred earthquake survivor mother–child dyads were included. The mental health of mothers and children was assessed using single-item screening tools, the Self-Reported Mother Mental Health (SRMH) and the Mother-Reported Child Mental Health (MRCMH).

The prevalence of negative mental health increased from 10% to 52% in play-age children and from 13% to 70% in their mothers after the earthquakes. For post-earthquake negative SRMH, associated factors included limited access to safe water (AOR = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.10–5.75, P = 0.029), good perception of security services (AOR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.12–0.73, P = 0.008), and post-earthquake negative MRCMH (AOR = 8.65, 95% CI: 4.70–15.91, P < 0.001). For post-earthquake negative MRCMH, associated factors were out-of-house sheltering (AOR = 3.13, 95% CI: 1.72–5.69, P < 0.001), good perception of nutritional services (AOR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.22–0.96, P = 0.039), pre-earthquake negative MRCMH (AOR = 4.68, 95% CI: 1.87–11.73, P = 0.001), and post-earthquake negative SRMH (AOR = 11.35, 95% CI: 5.92–21.76, P < 0.001).

Post-earthquake mental health outcomes were most consistently predicted by limited basic resources (water and nutrition services), not good service quality, and pre-existing or co-occurring negative mental health.

In the aftermath of the 2023 Turkey earthquakes, severely damaged hospitals necessitated efficient patient transportation. This research aims to assess the applicability of trauma assessment tools (TRISS, ISS, RTS) in determining transportation methods for earthquake-affected patients when local hospitals are incapacitated, particularly for patients transported by air ambulance and those who self-arrive from a location 1,100 km away.

This retrospective analysis involved 397 patients from a hospital 1,100 km away from the 2023 Turkey Earthquake. We assessed patients who arrived by air ambulance or self-transport following the earthquake, calculating TRISS, ISS, and RTS scores. We sought intergroup differences to establish transportation strategies.

TRISS and ISS exhibited good predictive value (AUC 0.723 and 0.880, respectively), while RTS was less useful. The median RTS score was 8 for both the Air transfer and Walk-in patients’ groups. The median RTS score was similar for air transfer and walk-in patients. For air transfer patients, most admissions occurred on the first day, while walk-in patients peaked on the eighth day.

ISS and TRISS effectively identify patients requiring air transport post-earthquake. Distant hospitals should prepare to receive air transferred patients within the first five days, and self-admitted patients from the fourth day onward.

This study aimed to explore the earthquake-related experiences of older adults relocated from nursing homes in earthquake-affected regions, the difficulties they faced in adapting to their new environments, and the post-earthquake support they received.

This phenomenological research was conducted through face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 26 participants who had to relocate to a nursing home in southern Turkiye after the earthquake. Qualitative content analysis was based on a deductive and inductive approach.

After the 2023 earthquake in Turkiye, participants experienced a range of emotions and attitudes, including trust, satisfaction, and happiness, as well as fear and anxiety. They experienced social isolation and difficulty adapting to the new nursing home’s dietary habits, climate, and living environment. Although participants received psychosocial and health support services after the earthquake, they recommended organizing more sociocultural activities and providing training on earthquake preparedness.

The findings revealed that emotional distress, adaptation difficulties, and social isolation were prominent challenges during the post-earthquake relocation process. Comprehensive post-earthquake care models are required, which should address older catastrophe survivors’ emotional and social well-being in addition to their physical health.

This research aims to determine the genital hygiene behaviors and risk factors of women of reproductive age after the earthquake.

The descriptive and relationship-seeking research was conducted with 296 women reached online in the Malatya province, where the earthquake in Turkey caused heavy damage. Research data was collected using an online survey form created via Google Forms. Data were obtained using the Personal Information Form and Genital Hygiene Behavior Scale.

In the study, genital hygiene behaviors of women with low education level (p = .004), not working (p = .003), sharing underwear (p = .002), having vaginal itching (p = .006), bathing frequency once a week or less (p = .001), bathing while sitting on a stool (p = .001) and having no knowledge about genital infection (p = .001) were found to be inadequate.

In the study, it was determined that the genital hygiene behaviors of women of reproductive age were negative after the earthquake. It is recommended that health professionals should not ignore the adverse effects that may occur on women’s genital hygiene behaviors after disasters such as earthquakes and take the necessary initiatives.

The aim of this study was to determine the health problems of individuals who survived the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake according to the Omaha System.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Adıyaman, Türkiye, and included 297 earthquake survivors. Data were collected using the Problem Classification Scheme of the Omaha System.

The majority of individuals who survived the earthquake were women and had at least one chronic disease. Of the 42 problems listed in the Omaha Problem Classification Scheme, 38 were identified. Most of the identified problems were actual and individual-level issues. Income, Sanitation, Residence, Living/workplace safety, Communication with community resources, Communicable/infectious condition, and Nutrition problems were identified in all earthquake survivors.

The Omaha System provides nurses with pertinent data to organize health services and prioritize interventions in the post-disaster period. The problems identified highlight the urgent need to improve health and living conditions in temporary shelters.

Health care workers (HCWs) are vital in disaster response. This study explores HCWs’ experiences delivering care in the earthquake-affected zone in Türkiye.

A qualitative study with a phenomenological design was conducted. Eighteen HCWs, including physicians, nurses, and National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE) members, were selected through maximum variation sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s 6-phase approach, following COREQ guidelines.

Three periods (pre-arrival, in the earthquake zone, and post-departure) and 8 themes were identified. In the pre-arrival phase, emotional symptoms and general organization were the main themes. In the earthquake zone, physical symptoms, basic needs, health care organization, health care delivery, and other services were prominent. The post-departure phase focused on emotional symptoms and return to routine work. Overall, emotional difficulties persisted throughout all phases, while organizational problems were concentrated in the pre-arrival and in the earthquake zone periods.

HCWs experienced emotional challenges across all periods and organizational problems in the pre-arrival and in the earthquake zone period. Clear information before arrival, structured orientation upon arrival, balanced staff distribution, and continuous psychological support throughout all phases are essential to protect HCWs’ well-being and sustain health care delivery during disasters.

In Jishishan County, Linxia Prefecture, Gansu Province, China, the altitude ranges from 1,787 meters to 4,308 meters. At 23:59 Beijing time on December 18, 2023, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Jishishan County. The objective is to report the injury characteristics and medical treatments of those injured in the earthquake.

The injury and treatment data were retrospectively collected and analyzed for earthquake-related injuries among patients admitted to the People’s Hospital of Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture.

A total of 166 patients were hospitalized: 142 at the People’s Hospital of Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture and 24 at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture. Among the injured, 40.3% presented with a single injury. The others had multiple injuries: 28.3% had two injuries, 14.5% had three injuries, 12.1% had four injuries, 4.2% presented with five injuries, while only 0.6% were diagnosed with six injuries. Additionally, 78.9% involved fractures alone, 36.8% involved lung contusions, and 34.9% involved both fractures and lung contusions. Conservative treatment was used slightly more than surgery (54.8% versus 45.2%). Among the 75 surgical cases, internal fixation and sutures were the most common (17.4% each). In total, 53.0% of the injured were treated and discharged and 47.0% were transferred to provincial hospitals. In addition, the outcome of injured patients with differing injury conditions was different.

Fractures and multiple injuries were the primary injury types in this study. Suturing and internal fixation were the most common surgical interventions. The core findings of this study provide an important reference for regionalized prevention and treatment of rural earthquake injuries in high-altitude regions.

This study explores how loneliness affects earthquake risk perception and preparedness behaviors among older adults in Japan. Aging is often accompanied by increased vulnerability to natural disasters, and loneliness is hypothesized to compromise effective preparedness. Using the Japanese Older Adult Preparedness Model (JOAPM), which integrates the Protective Action Decision Model (PADM) and cultural context, we examine how loneliness influences both perceived earthquake risk and protective behaviors.

An online survey conducted in April 2024 gathered responses from adults aged 55 and older across 4 earthquake-prone Japanese prefectures. Measures included demographics, disaster experience, loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale), risk perception, and preparedness actions such as household adjustments. Regression and mediation analyses assessed the direct and indirect effects of loneliness on preparedness.

Findings show that loneliness has a significant negative direct effect on disaster preparedness. However, it also slightly increases risk perception, which in turn has a positive relationship with preparedness behaviors, suggesting a modest indirect pathway. Overall, the direct negative effect of loneliness outweighs the indirect benefit.

The results highlight the complex role of psychosocial factors in disaster readiness, suggesting that interventions should address information dissemination, self-efficacy, and the emotional isolation experienced by older adults in high-risk areas.