The search for meaning in earthquake survivors: An existentially positive psychology perspective

The earthquakes that occurred in Türkiye on February 6 had a significant impact on the lives of those who managed to survive. The earthquake had substantial psychological effects, necessitating a more comprehensive understanding of the adaptive processes and trauma management strategies employed by those affected by seismic events. The comprehension of the adaptation process can be enhanced through the examination of relevant experiences in the context of several contemporary psychological theories. This study aimed to evaluate the viewpoints of individuals who experienced the earthquakes that occurred in Türkiye on February 6, within the framework of the existential positive psychology approach, which is currently a well recognized theoretical framework. The QDA Miner Lite software was used to do content analysis on the data obtained from YouTube videos that was selected as a component of the qualitative research project. Since the content analysis method was also performed here, the data were presented in frequency and percentage tables. The findings of the study indicated that individuals affected by earthquakes exhibited a notable level of integration of existential and positive psychology principles into their daily lives. Furthermore, recent findings have revealed that individuals affected by earthquakes demonstrate a dual tendency toward interpersonal connections and spiritual or transcendent experiences, as observed through the perspective of existential positive psychology.