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Exploring the Relationship between Post-Traumatic Stress and Job-Related Stress among Nurses in the Aftermath of Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes in Adıyaman: A Cross-Sectional Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2025

Osman Kurt ,
Fatma Sena Konyalıoğlu ,
Osman Küçükkelepçe Open the ORCID record for Osman Küçükkelepçe [Opens in a new window]  and
Ayşe Ferdane Oğuzöncül
Osman Kurt
Affiliation:
https://ror.org/04asck240Inonu University, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health Department, Malatya, Türkiye
Fatma Sena Konyalıoğlu
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Republic of Türkiye, Ministry of Health, Ankara, Türkiye
Osman Küçükkelepçe*
Affiliation:
Adıyaman Provincial Health Directorate, Public Health Department, Adıyaman, Türkiye
Ayşe Ferdane Oğuzöncül
Affiliation:
https://ror.org/03natay60Istanbul Arel University, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health Department, Istanbul, Türkiye
*
Corresponding author: Osman Küçükkelepçe; Email: osmankkelepce@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Objectives

This study aims to investigate the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and job-related stress among nurses working in both central and district areas of Adıyaman following the earthquake. Additionally, we assess potential risk factors influencing both PTSD and job-related stress.

Methods

This cross-sectional study involved 332 nurses. The study considered several independent variables, including age, gender, marital status, place of residence, experience of family loss due to the earthquake, and workplace location. The dependent variables for the study were identified as post-traumatic stress disorder and job stress.

Results

Of the nurses surveyed, 69% showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Notably, higher job stress scale scores were identified among women (P = 0.028), married individuals (P = 0.005), those with children (P < 0.001), those who were in Adıyaman during the earthquake (P < 0.001), and those who experienced family loss due to the earthquake (P < 0.001). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between PTSD scores and job stress scores (r = 0.599; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Given the bidirectional impact of PTSD and job stress, prompt and comprehensive interventions are essential for safeguarding nurses’ mental health and professional capacity following major events. These interventions should also consider other risk factors, such as female gender or experiencing a family loss.

Keywords

mental healthdisasteroccupational stresspsychological well-beingPost-traumatic stress disordernurse

Information

Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 19 , 2025 , e150
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc

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