Post-Traumatic Growth in University Students After Earthquakes: The Effect of Perceived Social Support and Psychological Resilience

This quantitative study examined the relationships between perceived social support, psychological resilience, and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among university students affected by the 6 February 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye. Utilizing a correlational design, the study tested whether psychological resilience mediated the relationship between perceived social support and PTG. The sample consisted of 769 undergraduate students from Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University and Malatya Turgut Özal University, selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected via standardized instruments: the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Resilience Scale for Adults, and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. A mediation analysis was conducted using the path analysis and bootstrapping methods with the IBM AMOS 24.0 software. The results revealed that perceived social support positively predicted both psychological resilience and PTG, and psychological resilience positively predicted PTG. The mediation analysis confirmed that psychological resilience partially mediated the relationship between perceived social support and PTG. Additionally, significant differences in PTG, resilience, and perceived social support levels were found across gender, housing conditions, psychological impact levels, and access to support. Notably, female students, those who lost loved ones, and those who received psychological or family support reported higher PTG levels. The results emphasize the critical role of social and individual resources in trauma adaptation. It is recommended that post-disaster psychosocial interventions prioritize strengthening both perceived social networks and individual resilience capacities to foster posttraumatic growth in affected populations.