EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS FOR RESILIENCE AMONG NURSES INVOLVED IN THE EARTHQUAKES CENTERED IN KAHRAMANMARAS AND HATAY

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the levels of emotional experiences and protective factors for resilience among nurses who worked during the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaras and Hatay on February 6, 2023, and to examine the relationships between these variables.Methods: This cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted between September 2023 and February 2024 with 88 nurses who worked during the February 6, 2023, earthquakes at two healthcare institutions. Data were collected using the Brief Emotional Experience Scale and the Protective Factors for Resilience Scale. Descriptive statistics and Spearman’s correlation analysis were used to analyze the data.Results: The mean total score of the Brief Emotional Experience Scale was -3.01±3.23, while the mean scores for negative and positive emotions were 5.53±2.16 and 2.52±1.48, respectively. The mean total score of the Protective Factors for Resilience Scale was 86.09±15.91, with mean scores of 27.97±5.06, 26.74±7.40, and 31.39±6.70 for the personal, peer, and family protective factors subscales, respectively. A weak, positive relationship was found between negative emotions and peer-related protective factors (r=0.219).Conclusion: Nurses who worked during the February 6, 2023, earthquakes experienced more negative than positive emotions. These findings highlight the importance of considering nurses’ emotional experiences and protective factors related to resilience in disaster settings. Accordingly, disaster preparedness programs should incorporate psychosocial preparedness, including strategies to strengthen peer-related protective factors and support nurses’ emotional well-being before, during, and after disasters.