{"title":"Exploring the association between post-traumatic stress levels of earthquake-affected mothers and children and the parent-child relationship.","authors":"Merve Nur Bozkurt Karalı, Yasemin Özkan","doi":"10.1177/00207640251347485","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>On February 6, 2023, the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes affected 11 provinces in Turkey, causing catastrophic consequences for 16.4% of the nation's population.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>This study aimed to explore the relationship between post-traumatic stress levels of mothers and children and the parent-child relationship one and a half years following the Kahramanmaraş earthquake.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study included 186 mothers and their 284 children, aged 2 to 10 years, all of whom were affected by the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. The mothers reported their own PTSD symptoms using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), assessed their children's symptoms via the Pediatric Emotional Distress Scale (PEDS), and completed the Parent-Child Relationship Scale (PCRS). To analyze the data, Pearson correlation analysis and multivariate linear regression analysis were employed. Additionally, mediation analyses were conducted using the bootstrapping-based PROCESS macro (Model-4).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our findings reveal that one and a half years after the earthquake, the mothers and their children remained at risk for post-traumatic stress. The results of our study indicate that maternal PTSD levels contribute to increased PED levels in children, both through the partial mediation effect of the negative parent-child relationship and through direct effects on children's PED levels. Furthermore, the study reveals that maternal PTSD levels also contribute to a negative parent-child relationship through the full mediation effect of children's PED level.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings underscore the necessity for post-earthquake psychosocial interventions to adopt a comprehensive approach that addresses not only individual psychological symptoms but also actively engages both mothers and children in the therapeutic process. Specifically, interventions should aim to enhance the quality of the parent-child relationship and foster secure attachment, emotional communication, and co-regulation within the family system.</p>","PeriodicalId":14304,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"207640251347485"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640251347485","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: On February 6, 2023, the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes affected 11 provinces in Turkey, causing catastrophic consequences for 16.4% of the nation's population.
Aims: This study aimed to explore the relationship between post-traumatic stress levels of mothers and children and the parent-child relationship one and a half years following the Kahramanmaraş earthquake.
Methods: The study included 186 mothers and their 284 children, aged 2 to 10 years, all of whom were affected by the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. The mothers reported their own PTSD symptoms using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), assessed their children's symptoms via the Pediatric Emotional Distress Scale (PEDS), and completed the Parent-Child Relationship Scale (PCRS). To analyze the data, Pearson correlation analysis and multivariate linear regression analysis were employed. Additionally, mediation analyses were conducted using the bootstrapping-based PROCESS macro (Model-4).
Results: Our findings reveal that one and a half years after the earthquake, the mothers and their children remained at risk for post-traumatic stress. The results of our study indicate that maternal PTSD levels contribute to increased PED levels in children, both through the partial mediation effect of the negative parent-child relationship and through direct effects on children's PED levels. Furthermore, the study reveals that maternal PTSD levels also contribute to a negative parent-child relationship through the full mediation effect of children's PED level.
Conclusion: These findings underscore the necessity for post-earthquake psychosocial interventions to adopt a comprehensive approach that addresses not only individual psychological symptoms but also actively engages both mothers and children in the therapeutic process. Specifically, interventions should aim to enhance the quality of the parent-child relationship and foster secure attachment, emotional communication, and co-regulation within the family system.
期刊介绍:
The International Journal of Social Psychiatry, established in 1954, is a leading publication dedicated to the field of social psychiatry. It serves as a platform for the exchange of research findings and discussions on the influence of social, environmental, and cultural factors on mental health and well-being. The journal is particularly relevant to psychiatrists and multidisciplinary professionals globally who are interested in understanding the broader context of psychiatric disorders and their impact on individuals and communities.
Social psychiatry, as a discipline, focuses on the origins and outcomes of mental health issues within a social framework, recognizing the interplay between societal structures and individual mental health. The journal draws connections with related fields such as social anthropology, cultural psychiatry, and sociology, and is influenced by the latest developments in these areas.
The journal also places a special emphasis on fast-track publication for brief communications, ensuring that timely and significant research can be disseminated quickly. Additionally, it strives to reflect its international readership by publishing state-of-the-art reviews from various regions around the world, showcasing the diverse practices and perspectives within the psychiatric disciplines. This approach not only contributes to the scientific understanding of social psychiatry but also supports the global exchange of knowledge and best practices in mental health care.