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Assessment of the Psychological Effects on Firefighters in the Aftermath of the Pazarcik and Elbistan Earthquakes in 2023

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Abstract

In February 2023, two catastrophic earthquakes in Turkey resulted in over 50,000 fatalities and over 300,000 injuries. This study investigated the psychological effects on firefighters who engage in rescue operations following these earthquakes, focusing on trauma-related symptoms, depression, anxiety, stress, and resilience. The research employed validated psychometric instruments, including the Post-earthquake Trauma Level Determination Scale (PETLDS); Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21); PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5); and Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), to assess the psychological states of firefighters. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the psychological impact of earthquakes on firefighters. Specific objectives include quantifying trauma levels; identifying the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and stress among firefighters; and investigating the role of psychological resilience in mitigating the effects of disaster-related psychological trauma. This study is also aimed at providing empirical evidence to inform the development of psychological support and intervention strategies for firefighters in the aftermath of these earthquakes. In this study of 223 primarily male firefighters, significant psychological impacts from earthquake trauma were observed. The PETLDS scores indicated high trauma levels in 28 participants and modest levels in 195. Subscales revealed affective responses and cognitive structure were most affected. DASS-21 scores showed higher depression, anxiety, and stress in the high trauma group. PCL-5 and BRS analyses confirmed higher PTSD symptoms and lower resilience in high-trauma individuals. Correlation analysis highlighted strong associations between trauma, psychological distress, and decreased resilience. These findings highlight the necessity for targeted mental health interventions and support mechanisms for firefighters, contribute to the establishment of training programs to enhance psychological resilience among firefighters, and add valuable insights to the field of disaster psychology.

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Data Availability

The datasets presented in this article are not readily available owing to privacy concerns. Requests to access the datasets should be directed by the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to the research participants as well as the departments that trained and employed them, for the time spent completing the assessments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Defense and Firefighting, Vocational School of Technical Science, Cerrahpasa University-Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey

    Erhan Bakirci PhD, Assist Prof

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Vedat Sar MD, Prof

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital Affiliated with University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ali Cetin MD, Prof

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  1. Erhan Bakirci PhD, Assist Prof
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  2. Vedat Sar MD, Prof
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  3. Ali Cetin MD, Prof
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Contributions

All study contributors actively participated in the conceptualization and design of the study. AEB was in charge of gathering data, while VS contributed to the preparation of materials and engaged in data analysis. AC conducted the statistical analysis procedures and authored the initial draft of the manuscript. Each author played a role in crafting the final manuscript, ensuring a thorough review, and granting their approval prior to its submission for publication.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Erhan Bakirci PhD, Assist Prof.

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Ethics Approval

The study aims and protocol were approved by the ethics review board of our institution before starting the study (Social and Humanities Research Ethics Committee of our university; Approval No: 2023/218 dated May 02, 2023). Participants were informed that they had the right to pull withdraw the study at any time. The respondents were required to click the “Consent” button as an indication that they have given an informed consent before the next page of the questionnaire could be accessed.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Bakirci, E., Sar, V. & Cetin, A. Assessment of the Psychological Effects on Firefighters in the Aftermath of the Pazarcik and Elbistan Earthquakes in 2023. J Behav Health Serv Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-024-09896-1

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