Psychological resilience and media-based indirect trauma: evidence from the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes

The aim of this study is to investigate the association between psychological resilience and media-related indirect trauma following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. This quantitative study utilized a predictive correlational design with a sample of 318 adults aged 18–65 (68.6% female, 31.4% male). The largest proportion of the sample (58.5%) fell within the 18–27 age bracket. Multivariable linear regression analyses showed that the higher age category was independently associated with higher psychological resilience scores (β = 0.272, p < 0.001). Perceived psychological strength against disasters was independently associated with lower media-related indirect trauma scores (β = −0.414, p < 0.001). No significant association was found between total psychological resilience and total media-related indirect trauma scores, although several very weak associations were observed at the sub-dimension level. These findings indicate that psychological resilience and media-related indirect trauma are complex, multidimensional constructs, with specific variables showing independent associations after adjustment for other factors. Given the cross-sectional correlational design, these findings should be interpreted as associations rather than causal or protective effects.