The Impact of earthquake trauma and experience on positive future expectations in Türkiye: mediating roles of resilience and religious attitude

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the occurrence of natural disasters has been on the rise globally, including in Türkiye. On February 6, 2023, a powerful earthquake with its epicentre in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye, impacted 10 provinces, resulting in widespread devastation, significant loss of life, and deep trauma for many individuals. This study examines the mediating roles of psychological resilience and religiosity in the relationship between earthquake trauma and positive future expectancy. METHODS: Employing a cross-sectional design, data were collected through an online survey from 1,412 participants who completed the Post-Earthquake Trauma Level Determining Scale, the Positive Expectations Towards the Future Scale, the Religious Attitude Scale, and the Brief Resilience Scale. RESULTS: The results indicated that trauma from the earthquake was linked to increased religiosity and reduced psychological resilience. The trauma was higher in those exposed to the earthquake than in those not exposed, and positive future expectation was positively correlated with religiosity and resilience. Both religiosity and psychological resilience were found to play an indirect role in influencing the relationship between earthquake-related trauma and positive expectations for the future. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the potential roles of religiosity and psychological resilience in supporting the psychological well-being of trauma survivors. While the cross-sectional design limits causal inference, the results may inform future research and discussions on how these factors could be considered in recovery and intervention contexts.