Emotional disturbances and psychological resilience among earthquake survivors in temporary shelters: assessing the role of life satisfaction

This study aims to examine the levels of emotional disturbances, psychological resilience, and life satisfaction among earthquake survivors residing in temporary shelters in Hatay province following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş-centred earthquakes. Additionally, it seeks to identify the critical role of life satisfaction. This study employs a quantitative, correlational research design with data collected from 408 participants selected through purposive sampling. Participants range in age from 18 to 70 years. Data collection utilizes face-to-face surveys administered through a demographic information form, the Brief Psychological Resilience Scale (BPRS), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). Analyses are performed using JASP (v.0.19.3.0), incorporating descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, ANOVA, mediation, and moderation analyses. The results reveal that female and younger earthquake survivors report significantly higher levels of emotional disturbances. Emotional disturbances negatively predict psychological resilience, whereas life satisfaction positively predicts psychological resilience. No meaningful relationship emerges between emotional disturbances and life satisfaction. Moderation analyses demonstrate that life satisfaction significantly moderates the relationship between stress, anxiety, depression, and psychological resilience. However, mediation analyses indicate that neither life satisfaction nor emotional disturbances mediate the relationship between psychological resilience and the other Variables. According to the research findings, depression, anxiety and stress negatively affect psychological resilience, while life satisfaction plays a role in increasing vulnerability rather than fulfilling its expected buffering function; it shows that groups such as women, younger generations, and single individuals exhibit higher levels of mood disorders and lower levels of psychological resilience; and that the relationship between educational level and psychological resilience is shaped by cultural context. Therefore, in disaster management processes, rather than focusing solely on increasing life satisfaction, developing goal-oriented psychosocial interventions aimed at reducing mood disorders, community solidarity programs, and psychological support services integrated into the insurance system are critical for sustainable disaster resilience. This study highlights a crucial paradox for post-disaster mental health: life satisfaction, rather than buffering the impact of emotional distress, can unexpectedly increase psychological vulnerability.