iv
This study aimed to examine the possible effects of being a volunteer in a
nongovernmental organization (Neighborhood Disaster Support Project) for
psychological distress and posttraumatic growth following the 1999 Marmara
earthquake. The predictors of psychological distress and posttraumatic growth
were also investigated. Risk factors were examined as pre-earthquake variables
(e.g. socio-demographic variables), earthquake variables (e.g. severity of impact),
and post-earthquake variables (e.g. being a Neighborhood Disaster Volunteer
(NDV) or not, and coping strategies). One hundred survivors (66 Males and 34
females with an age range of 18-59) of the earthquake, who are NDVs and a
control group, composed of 100 survivors (66 Males and 34 females with an age
range of 18-60) who are not NDVs participated in the study. Furthermore, in
order to see the effects of being closer or further to the earthquake epicenter, half
of the sample was taken from Gö / lcü / k (epicenter of the quake), and the rest were
from izmit (further from the epicenter). Data was collected 4,5 years after the
earthquake by a questionnaire consisting of three parts. One psychology graduate
student and five trained NDVs administered the questionnaire individually. The
first part of the questionnaire had items taping socio-demographic information
and earthquake experiences. The second part included items related to the
experience of being a volunteer. Finally, the third part contained three scales
which assessed the participants&rsquo / psychological distress (Symptom Checklist-40),
coping skills (Ways of Coping Questionnaire), and posttraumatic growth level
(Stress Related Growth Scale). The results of factor analysis indicated that
earthquake experience could be grouped into two factors, namely severity of
impact and perceived life threat. It was found that the respondents had
significantly higher perceived life threat than the severity of impact. The factor
analysis for coping yielded four factors, which were problem focused/optimistic,
fatalistic, helplessness and escape coping approaches. The comparison of the
volunteer and non-volunteers samples showed that the non-volunteer sample uses
significantly more levels of fatalistic coping. Moreover it was found that women
use significantly more levels of helplessness coping. When the impact of the
earthquake severity on post traumatic growth levels was investigated, results
showed that individuals from Gö / lcü / k (epicenter of the quake) had significantly
higher growth levels than those from izmit (further away from epicenter). The
results of regression analyses showed that low education level, helplessness
approach, and less use of problem solving/optimistic approach were significant
predictors of subjects&rsquo / general distress levels. Being a volunteer, using problem
solving/optimistic approach and fatalistic approach appeared as significant
predictors of posttraumatic growth. The results were discussed within the
psychological distress and growth theories. Furthermore, limitations of the study,
implications for psychosocial interventions and future research were discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:METU/oai:etd.lib.metu.edu.tr:http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12605728/index.pdf |
| Date | 01 January 2005 |
| Creators | Tanridagli, Zeynep Ceren |
| Contributors | Karanci, A. Nuray |
| Publisher | METU |
| Source Sets | Middle East Technical Univ. |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | M.S. Thesis |
| Format | text/pdf |
| Rights | To liberate the content for public access |
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