Earthquake Anxiety & Self-Compassion Skill: A Study on Their Demographic Differences & Relationships

This study aims at analyzing the relationship between earthquake anxiety and self-compassion skill, while evaluating gender differences. Data from a total of 273 participants were used to assess the earthquake anxiety and self-compassion skill levels of the participants. The findings indicate that the earthquake anxiety is higher among women but the self-compassion skill is more apparent among men. In the reliability analysis performed for the earthquake anxiety and self-compassion skill measurements; Crohnbach’s alpha coefficients were used. Accordingly, the coefficients were calculated as (0.98) for earthquake anxiety scale and (0.84) for self-compassion scale. It was revealed that both scales had high reliability coefficients. Correlation analysis results indicate that the individuals with high earthquake anxiety have lower self-compassion skill. In addition, it was observed that the earthquake anxiety increased according to the risk magnitude, that is to say, it was found that the earthquake anxiety were more apparent in the individuals residing in the areas at high earthquake risk. The regression model established between self-compassion scale and earthquake anxiety scale were also found significant. These findings shed a light to the further studies to be performed to better understand the complex relationship between earthquake anxiety and self-compassion skill. This study makes an important contribution to the fact that psychological support services and crisis intervention programs can reach to the individuals more efficiently, taking the relationship between earthquake anxiety and self-compassion skill.