Earthquakes pose substantial psychological challenges for nurses who continue to provide care under extreme conditions. Trauma exposure and difficulties in emotion regulation may influence nurses' care-related behaviors in post-disaster settings. This descriptive and comparative study aimed to determine the levels of post-earthquake trauma and emotion regulation difficulties among nurses exposed to earthquakes, and to examine their effects on caring behaviors. The study was conducted with 143 nurses working in two state hospitals affected by the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. Data were collected using a sociodemographic characteristics form and standardized scales assessing post-earthquake trauma, emotion regulation difficulties, and caring behaviors. The findings indicated that nurses experienced post-earthquake trauma and difficulties in emotion regulation while providing care in disaster-affected settings. These factors were associated with changes in caring behaviors in the post-earthquake period. Post-earthquake trauma and emotion regulation difficulties were significant predictors of nurses' caring behaviors, highlighting the need to address the psychological impact of disasters on nursing care.
Tohumcu et al. (Mon,) studied this question.