Volume 26, Issue 2 (8-2026)
Social Welfare Quarterly 2026, 26(2): 279-311 |
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mirzaei R. (2026). Psychosocial Traumas Following the Earthquake from the Perspective of Survivors and Social Actors: A Qualitative Study in Sarpol-e Zahab. Social Welfare Quarterly. 26(2), 279-311. doi:10.32598/refahj.26.2.4696.1
URL: http://refahj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-4537-en.html
URL: http://refahj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-4537-en.html
Keywords: Psychosocial trauma, Earthquake survivors, Social actors, Thematic analysis, Earthquake, Sarpol-e Zahab
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Extended Abstract
Introduction
Natural disasters have always been an inseparable part of human life and, in the contemporary world, are recognized as multidimensional phenomena that affect not only physical survival but also the psychological and social structures of communities. Earthquakes, as one of the most destructive natural hazards, generate enduring psychological and social traumas among survivors—traumas that are often neglected in post-disaster rehabilitation planning. Due to its unique tectonic location, Iran is among the most earthquake-prone countries, and experiences of major earthquakes indicate that their psychosocial consequences persist for years. The 2017 Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake, beyond causing extensive physical destruction and human casualties, led to profound psychological and social disturbances, further intensified by the region’s specific socio-economic vulnerabilities. Despite the significance of these dimensions, qualitative studies focusing on survivors’ psychosocial conditions and social realities remain limited. Therefore, the present study adopts a qualitative approach to identify and explain the psychological and social traumas, as well as the challenges of social rehabilitation, following the Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake.
Method
This study employed an exploratory qualitative design within a naturalistic paradigm to gain an in-depth understanding of the psychological and social consequences of the earthquake from the perspectives of survivors and social actors following the Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake. Participants included 35 survivors and 13 social experts selected through purposive sampling with maximum variation. Data were collected through 48 in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data analysis was carried out inductively using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis approach. To enhance trustworthiness, member checking, data triangulation, and expert review were applied. Ethical considerations included obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality, and using coded identifiers instead of participants’ names in reporting the findings.
Findings
The findings indicate that the Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake evolved beyond a natural event into a persistent and multilayered psychosocial crisis. The core category identified was “psychological and social traumas as a lasting post-crisis experience,” reflecting the enduring sense of insecurity and disruption in returning to normal life. Major themes included chronic anxiety and anticipation of further disasters, sleep disturbances and fear of nighttime, fear of enclosed spaces, and loss of trust in residential environments. Informational anxiety and the spread of rumors further intensified psychological insecurity. At the social level, increased local tensions, feelings of social insecurity, changes in community relations, and growing dependency on external aid were observed, leading to the erosion of social agency. Overall, the psychosocial consequences of the earthquake were not only persistent but deeply intertwined with survivors’ everyday lives.
Discussion
The findings demonstrate that the Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake evolved into a persistent psychosocial crisis extending across both individual and social levels. Chronic insecurity, ongoing anxiety, and suspension in the process of returning to normal life were among the central consequences. Nighttime fears and fear of enclosed spaces reflect the direct linkage between the physical experience of the disaster and its psychological representations. Moreover, rumors and the absence of a trusted information source intensified collective anxiety and eroded institutional trust. The collapse of survivors’ meaning systems and identity suspension indicate a profound social rupture. Additionally, the influx of non-local workers and prolonged dependency on external aid contributed to social tensions and the erosion of social capital.
These findings highlight the necessity of integrating psychosocial reconstruction alongside physical rebuilding in post-earthquake recovery programs.
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with Ethical Guidelines
Prior to data collection, all participants were informed about the objectives of the study and provided written informed consent. Participation was voluntary, confidentiality was ensured, and participants had the right to withdraw from the study at any stage. To protect anonymity, participants were identified using codes rather than names.
Author Contributions
The author was responsible for the study design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of findings, manuscript preparation, and final approval of the manuscript.
Funding
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Conflict of Interest
The author declares no conflict of interest
Research Ethics
All ethical considerations were adhered to in this article, including honesty, avoidance of plagiarism, integrity, and confidentiality.
Braun, V. , & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.
Introduction
Natural disasters have always been an inseparable part of human life and, in the contemporary world, are recognized as multidimensional phenomena that affect not only physical survival but also the psychological and social structures of communities. Earthquakes, as one of the most destructive natural hazards, generate enduring psychological and social traumas among survivors—traumas that are often neglected in post-disaster rehabilitation planning. Due to its unique tectonic location, Iran is among the most earthquake-prone countries, and experiences of major earthquakes indicate that their psychosocial consequences persist for years. The 2017 Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake, beyond causing extensive physical destruction and human casualties, led to profound psychological and social disturbances, further intensified by the region’s specific socio-economic vulnerabilities. Despite the significance of these dimensions, qualitative studies focusing on survivors’ psychosocial conditions and social realities remain limited. Therefore, the present study adopts a qualitative approach to identify and explain the psychological and social traumas, as well as the challenges of social rehabilitation, following the Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake.
Method
This study employed an exploratory qualitative design within a naturalistic paradigm to gain an in-depth understanding of the psychological and social consequences of the earthquake from the perspectives of survivors and social actors following the Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake. Participants included 35 survivors and 13 social experts selected through purposive sampling with maximum variation. Data were collected through 48 in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data analysis was carried out inductively using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis approach. To enhance trustworthiness, member checking, data triangulation, and expert review were applied. Ethical considerations included obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality, and using coded identifiers instead of participants’ names in reporting the findings.
Findings
The findings indicate that the Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake evolved beyond a natural event into a persistent and multilayered psychosocial crisis. The core category identified was “psychological and social traumas as a lasting post-crisis experience,” reflecting the enduring sense of insecurity and disruption in returning to normal life. Major themes included chronic anxiety and anticipation of further disasters, sleep disturbances and fear of nighttime, fear of enclosed spaces, and loss of trust in residential environments. Informational anxiety and the spread of rumors further intensified psychological insecurity. At the social level, increased local tensions, feelings of social insecurity, changes in community relations, and growing dependency on external aid were observed, leading to the erosion of social agency. Overall, the psychosocial consequences of the earthquake were not only persistent but deeply intertwined with survivors’ everyday lives.
Discussion
The findings demonstrate that the Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake evolved into a persistent psychosocial crisis extending across both individual and social levels. Chronic insecurity, ongoing anxiety, and suspension in the process of returning to normal life were among the central consequences. Nighttime fears and fear of enclosed spaces reflect the direct linkage between the physical experience of the disaster and its psychological representations. Moreover, rumors and the absence of a trusted information source intensified collective anxiety and eroded institutional trust. The collapse of survivors’ meaning systems and identity suspension indicate a profound social rupture. Additionally, the influx of non-local workers and prolonged dependency on external aid contributed to social tensions and the erosion of social capital.
These findings highlight the necessity of integrating psychosocial reconstruction alongside physical rebuilding in post-earthquake recovery programs.
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with Ethical Guidelines
Prior to data collection, all participants were informed about the objectives of the study and provided written informed consent. Participation was voluntary, confidentiality was ensured, and participants had the right to withdraw from the study at any stage. To protect anonymity, participants were identified using codes rather than names.
Author Contributions
The author was responsible for the study design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of findings, manuscript preparation, and final approval of the manuscript.
Funding
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Conflict of Interest
The author declares no conflict of interest
Research Ethics
All ethical considerations were adhered to in this article, including honesty, avoidance of plagiarism, integrity, and confidentiality.
Braun, V. , & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.
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Received: 2025/10/26 | Accepted: 2026/06/30 | Published: 2026/08/31
Received: 2025/10/26 | Accepted: 2026/06/30 | Published: 2026/08/31
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