Research Information System
EDUCATIONAL GERONTOLOGY, 2025 (SSCI, Scopus)
This study aimed to qualitatively examine the challenges and psychosocial problems faced by older adults following an earthquake. Twenty-four older adults composed the convenience sample of the descriptive phenomenological design study. The data were analyzed via Colaizzi's method, which involves significant statement extraction, meaning formulation, and theme development to capture participants' lived experiences. The participants' experiences were grouped into five themes: earthquake experience, post-earthquake difficulties, coping methods, factors that increased adaptation, and future expectations. It was determined that older adults experienced emotional and physical difficulties during and after the earthquake. In the acute period, older adults experienced problems, such as inadequate heating, lack of self-care, fear of epidemics, inadequate rescue facilities, difficulty accessing health services, obstacles to accessing necessary care services, fuel shortages, looting and theft incidents, inability to meet basic needs, anxiety attacks, and conversion. Apart from these, they experienced various economic, physical, and psychological problems. Temporary shelter conditions were found to cause adaptation problems. It was determined that older adults used various coping strategies, such as emotion-focused methods, religious coping, body-focused methods, and professional support, to overcome the difficulties caused by the earthquake. Psychosocial support and economic support were found to be important factors facilitating post-earthquake adaptation. The participants had short- and long-term expectations. A comprehensive approach that includes psychosocial support, economic assistance, health services, and education to reduce the vulnerability and increase older adults' resilience to disasters is recommended.