The Relationship Between Disaster Fear and Attitudes of Nursing Students: Descriptive-Relational Study

Objective: This study aims to examine the relationship between disaster fear and disaster attitudes among nursing students 2 years after the earthquakes that occurred consecutively in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023. Material and Methods: The universe of this descriptive-correlational study consists of 234 nursing students studying at a foundation university in Kahramanmaraş. The sample size was calculated using the G*Power program and completed with 206 students. Purposeful sampling was used in the study. Data were collected via Google Forms between January-February 2025. Data were collected using the ''student identification form'', ''Disaster Fear Scale'', and ''Disaster Attitude Scale''. The survey was uploaded to Google Forms, and links were sent to the students' WhatsApp groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27. Statistical significance was assessed at p<0.05. Results: 81.6% of the students were female, and the mean age was 21.12±2.26. It was determined that 41.7% of the students had been exposed to a disaster and 68% had received disaster education. The mean score on the Disaster Fear Scale was 24.72±7.66, and the mean score on the Disaster Attitude Scale was 79.05±15.01. A lowlevel statistically significant positive correlation was found between the students' disaster fear scores and disaster attitude scores (r=0.159; p=0.023). Conclusion: Future nurses were found to have high disaster fear and moderate attitudes. A low correlation was found between disaster fear and attitudes. It is recommended that technology-supported disaster simulation-based practices be added to nursing curricula, regular drills be conducted, and coping education programs for students' disaster fears be planned.