The Relationship Between Earthquake Risk Perception and Claustrophobia Level and Affecting Factors

Purpose: This research was planned as correlational and cross-sectional to examine the relationship between earthquake risk perception and claustrophobia and the affecting factors. Method: This correlational cross-sectional study was conducted to identify the relationship between earthquake risk perception and claustrophobia level in earthquake victims who experienced the Elazığ earthquake on January 24, 2020, and the affecting factors. The population of the research is individuals who experienced the earthquake in Elazığ city. The sample group of the research consisted of 400 people who agreed to participate in the research and were over the age of 18. In this study, data were collected via online survey method between 01.07.2023 and 01.09.2023. Data were collected using an information form on socio-demographic characteristics and a questionnaire prepared by the researchers by scanning the relevant literature. Results: It was identified that the average age of the study participants was 35.08±12.51, half of them were women (54.8%) and 55% had children. According to the T-Test analyses in this research; it was found that there are significant differences between women's and men's perception of earthquake risk. According to the Anova Test analyses in this research; it was observed that as the education level of earthquake victims increased, the severity of claustrophobia decreased and as the level of damage in their homes increased, the severity of claustrophobia increased. It was identified that there was a positive significant relationship between claustrophobia behavior and earthquake risk perception and its affective and cognitive sub-dimensions. In other words, individuals with high claustrophobia behavior also have high earthquake risk perception. Conclusion: As a result, it was seen that education status and gender have significant differences on earthquake risk perception, and significant relationship between affective and cognitive earthquake risk perception and claustrophobia.