Abstract
Abstract
Background
Posttraumatic growth (PTG) may coexist with persistent psychological symptoms after major disasters, but associated psychological factors remain unclear. This study examined the associations of PTG with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and general psychological distress among survivors of the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, and tested whether self-compassion and resilience moderated these associations.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included adult earthquake survivors assessed approximately three years after the disaster. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), PTG using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and general psychological distress using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) total score. Perceived social support, resilience, religious coping, and self-compassion were assessed using validated self-report measures. Spearman correlations, hierarchical linear regression analyses, and PROCESS Model 1 moderation analyses were performed.
Results
The study included 280 participants. PTGI scores were positively correlated with both PCL-5 and DASS-21 total scores. In adjusted hierarchical regression models, PTGI remained independently and positively associated with both PTSD symptoms and general distress. Higher self-compassion and perceived social support were associated with lower PTSD symptoms, whereas higher self-compassion, resilience, and perceived social support were associated with lower general distress. House loss, witnessing death, and positive religious coping were associated with higher general distress. Self-compassion and resilience moderated the PTG–general distress association, but not the PTG–PTSD symptom association.
Conclusions
PTG may coexist with persistent PTSD symptoms and general distress after earthquakes. The PTG–general distress association was weaker at higher levels of self-compassion and resilience, whereas the PTG–PTSD symptom association was not moderated.