Research Information System
Global Mental Health, vol.12, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
Background: This study aimed to investigate the psychological impact of the Turkey 2023 earthquakes on preschool-aged children and to compare them with those with other life-threatening traumas. Methods: Thirty-four preschool children who experienced earthquakes on February 6, 2023 and applied to our outpatient clinic in the following 3 months and 37 other trauma-experienced preschool children were included in this cross-sectional study. Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment (PAPA)/Post-Traumatic Stress sections were conducted. Parents were asked to complete the Pediatric Emotional Distress Scale (PEDS) and the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1.5-5 (CBCL/ 1 1/2-5) to evaluate stress-related reactions alongside psychiatric problems of children. Results: The results showed that acute stress disorder (ASD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were more common in the earthquake-experienced group than in the other traumaexperienced group (Fisher's exact test, 52.9% vs 8.1%, p < 0.001 and 38.2% vs 8.1%, p=0.004, respectively). Migration after the earthquake had no additional impact on trauma-related psychiatric outcomes, either ASD or PTSD (p= .153, and p= .106, respectively); whereas sleep problems predicted PTSD (OR=1.26, β= 0.42, p = 0.036) in the earthquake-experienced group. Conclusion: Our study provides implications for understanding the psychological impact of earthquakes and risk factors for PTSD among preschool children.