Objective: The aim was to determine the relationship between
secondary traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, and coping styles in
healthcare workers following the devastating 2023 Kahramanmaraş
earthquakes.
Method: A total of 243 healthcare workers aged 18-65 years working
at Ankara Bilkent City Children’s Hospital between April 2023 and
June 2023 were included in our study. Participants were assessed with
the Brief Symptom Inventory, Ways of Coping with Stress Scale and
Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale.
Results: Anxiety, depression and secondary traumatic stress were
positively correlated with ineffective coping styles and negatively
correlated with effective coping styles. Younger age and female gender
were associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression, while
secondary traumatic stress was more prevalent among those involved in
treating earthquake-affected patients. Regression analysis revealed that
ineffective coping styles were associated with anxiety, depression and
secondary traumatic stress. Additionally, time spent treating earthquakeaffected
patients was linked to secondary traumatic stress, and the loss
of a relative was associated with anxiety.
Conclusion: Healthcare workers relying more on ineffective coping
styles may face a greater risk of anxiety, depression and secondary
traumatic stress.
Keywords: Anxiety, earthquake, depression, healthcare workers,
secondary traumatic stress