Deprem Korkusunun Tanrı Algısı ve Dünya Varsayımları Üzerindeki Etkisi
The Impact of Earthquake Fear on the Perception of God and Assumptions about the World

Summary/Abstract: This study examined the multidimensional effects of the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023, on individuals’ psychological, cognitive, and spiritual processes. The study empirically analyzed the relationships between forms of direct trauma exposure, including mild/severe injury, loss of a loved one according to degree of kinship, and being trapped under rubble, and the variables of earthquake fear, world assumptions, and perception of God. Using a correlational survey and comparative design, the cross-sectional data were collected from 574 participants aged 18 years and older who were directly affected by the earthquakes. In addition to a Personal Information Form, a battery of scales comprising the Earthquake Fear Scale, the Perception of God Scale, and the World Assumptions Scale was used during data collection. The quantitative data obtained within the scope of the study were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). ANOVA, independent-samples t-tests, correlation analyses, and regression analyses were employed to test the study hypotheses. The findings indicated that disasters have nonlinear, selective, and complex effects on the human psyche, cognitive schemas, and belief systems. Although no significant differences were found in earthquake fear scores among individuals who had been trapped under rubble or had experienced injury, their world assumptions were found to have been positively restructured after the acute phase, accompanied by existential awareness and feelings of gratitude associated with survival. In contrast, perceptions of God differed significantly in a negative direction, particularly among individuals who had lost a first-degree relative and those who had experienced the highest levels of helplessness while trapped under rubble. These individuals were also found to experience questioning and distancing religious tensions concerning God’s justice and mercy. The regression results revealed that, despite emotional transformation, earthquake fear had limited but significant explanatory power in relation to world assumptions and perceptions of God. The findings highlight the critical importance of integrating “Spiritual First Aid” and meaning-centered counseling models into psychosocial support processes during periods of crisis.

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