Abstract: (48 Views)
Introduction: In addition to physical destruction, earthquakes leave profound psychological and social consequences that often remain neglected in post-disaster rehabilitation programs. The present study aimed to explore psychosocial traumas following the November 2017 earthquake in Sarpol-e Zahab from the perspectives of survivors and social actors.
Methods: This study was conducted using a qualitative approach and thematic analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 48 participants, including 35 earthquake survivors and 13 social and relief professionals. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, and sampling continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data collection and analysis were carried out simultaneously. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six-step thematic analysis approach.
Results: Data analysis led to the identification of seven abstract categories of psychosocial trauma, including: persistent psychological insecurity and existential anxiety, disruption in time perception and sleep patterns, spatial and environmental fears, informational anxiety and rumor orientation, collapse of meaning in survivors' perceptions and social relationships, post-disaster social tensions, and dependency and erosion of social agency. These psychosocial traumas significantly disrupted survivors' return to normal life, social cohesion, and sense of security.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that post-earthquake psychosocial traumas are multilayered, persistent, and intertwined phenomena that cannot be resolved merely through the passage of time or physical reconstruction. In the absence of comprehensive psychosocial interventions during the rehabilitation process, these traumas tend to be reproduced and prolonged. Therefore, post-disaster rehabilitation programs should move beyond a purely physical reconstruction approach and pay greater attention to psychosocial recovery, social empowerment, institutional trust, and community resilience. Policymakers' attention to these hidden dimensions is essential for achieving sustainable and equitable post-disaster recovery.
Methods: This study was conducted using a qualitative approach and thematic analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 48 participants, including 35 earthquake survivors and 13 social and relief professionals. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, and sampling continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data collection and analysis were carried out simultaneously. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six-step thematic analysis approach.
Results: Data analysis led to the identification of seven abstract categories of psychosocial trauma, including: persistent psychological insecurity and existential anxiety, disruption in time perception and sleep patterns, spatial and environmental fears, informational anxiety and rumor orientation, collapse of meaning in survivors' perceptions and social relationships, post-disaster social tensions, and dependency and erosion of social agency. These psychosocial traumas significantly disrupted survivors' return to normal life, social cohesion, and sense of security.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that post-earthquake psychosocial traumas are multilayered, persistent, and intertwined phenomena that cannot be resolved merely through the passage of time or physical reconstruction. In the absence of comprehensive psychosocial interventions during the rehabilitation process, these traumas tend to be reproduced and prolonged. Therefore, post-disaster rehabilitation programs should move beyond a purely physical reconstruction approach and pay greater attention to psychosocial recovery, social empowerment, institutional trust, and community resilience. Policymakers' attention to these hidden dimensions is essential for achieving sustainable and equitable post-disaster recovery.
Keywords: Psychosocial Trauma, Earthquake Survivors, Social Actors, Thematic Analysis, Earthquake, Sarpol-e Zahab.
Type of Study: orginal |
Received: 2025/10/26 | Accepted: 2026/06/30
Received: 2025/10/26 | Accepted: 2026/06/30
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Social Welfare Quarterly
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