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Investigation of the Effect of Death Anxiety on the Life Satisfaction of Individuals Living in the Earthquake Zone in Türkiye: The Disaster of the Century

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2025

Rukiye Türk Delibalta Open the ORCID record for Rukiye Türk Delibalta [Opens in a new window] ,
Arzu Karabağ Aydın Open the ORCID record for Arzu Karabağ Aydın [Opens in a new window] ,
Tuğçe Sönmez Open the ORCID record for Tuğçe Sönmez [Opens in a new window]  and
Zehra Çoktay Open the ORCID record for Zehra Çoktay [Opens in a new window]
Rukiye Türk Delibalta
Affiliation:
Department of Birth, Women Health and Gynecology Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kafkas University, Kars, Türkiye
Arzu Karabağ Aydın
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing Fundamentals, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kafkas University, Kars, Türkiye
Tuğçe Sönmez*
Affiliation:
Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tarsus University, Mersin, Türkiye
Zehra Çoktay
Affiliation:
Ministry of Health, Türkiye
*
Corresponding author: Tuğçe Sönmez; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective

This study aims to determine the effect of death anxiety on the life satisfaction of individuals living in 11 provinces declared as earthquake zones in Turkey.

Methods

This cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted with 435 participants in earthquake zones in Turkey. Data were collected online through Google Forms using a sociodemographic form, the Revised Death Anxiety Scale (RDAS), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS).

Results

In this study, it was determined that 48.5% of the participants exhibited moderate levels of death anxiety. The participants’ average score on the RDAS was 53.97 (SD = 16.21), and their mean score on the SWLS was 12.30 (SD = 4.33).

Conclusions

This study showed that death anxiety adversely affects life satisfaction. Higher death anxiety among participants was associated with lower satisfaction with life. Consequently, health care professionals should offer increased psychological and communication support to individuals who have experienced significant disasters like earthquakes.

Keywords

anxietydeathearthquakelifesatisfactionTürkiye
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 19 , 2025 , e86
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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