Between survivor and social worker: The experiences of social workers in the 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquake

Abstract This qualitative study examined the experiences of social workers who were both victims and professionals working in the field during the 6 February 2023, Türkiye-Syria earthquakes. Semi-structured interviews were employed as the data collection tool. Participants were selected through a criterion and snowball sampling methods, and interviews were conducted with a total of twelve social workers. The data, analysed using thematic analysis, revealed four main themes and twelve sub-themes: dimensions of trauma, post-traumatic responses, professional coping mechanisms, and social support mechanisms. The findings highlight participants’ dual roles as both professionals and disaster victims, which generated significant stress and traumatic responses. Importantly, the analysis demonstrated that active coping strategies and social support mechanisms not only fostered resilience but also facilitated post-traumatic growth (PTG) and vicarious post-traumatic growth (VPTG). Participants’ strengthened professional identity and enhanced social relationships emerged as characteristic PTG indicators, while their field experiences cultivated increased empathy and personal confidence—core components of VPTG. However, these positive adaptations did not fully mitigate their risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or secondary traumatic stress.