The psychosocial resilience experiences of healthcare workers following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes: a qualitative study

Abstract

This study explores the under-researched experiences of healthcare workers navigating a “dual-role” paradox, functioning simultaneously as traumatised disaster survivors and active responders during the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes. Disasters fracture a community’s social fabric, highlighting the need to understand the dynamic interactions that shape the adaptive capacities of frontline healthcare workers in disrupted environments. Moving beyond individual-centric approaches, this research provides a socio-ecological framework demonstrating that resilience is a multidimensional outcome, offering critical insights for post-disaster mental health strategies. To investigate the psychosocial resilience and resource mobilisation of these professionals across individual, interpersonal, and organisational levels, a qualitative approach was employed. In-depth interviews were conducted with 33 frontline healthcare workers (paramedics/ emergency medical technicians [EMTs], nurses, emergency physicians, and psychosocial staff) active in the immediate aftermath. Data were evaluated via thematic analysis and interpreted through the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM). The sample (mean age: 32.00 ± 5.33) primarily comprised pre-hospital emergency personnel ( n = 16, 48.5%). Highlighting the extreme demands of their position, all participants worked continuously for over 72 h acutely, despite their own homes sustaining mild damage. The thematic analysis identified three main themes: Psychological Resilience, Social and Communal Support, and Organisational and Occupational Challenges. Healthcare workers experienced severe occupational role conflict, ethical distress, and security vulnerabilities. Despite the psychological toll, participants exhibited psychological flexibility and a heightened awareness of life’s fragility. Family bonds, collegial solidarity, and community support emerged as essential support systems. Integrating the SEM with the dual-role framework of healthcare workers, this study reinforces that disaster resilience is a socially and organisationally embedded process shaped by complex interactions. Shifting from traditional individual paradigms, these findings offer policymakers and crisis managers strategic guidance on developing multi-layered support systems that address the unique role conflicts faced by healthcare workers in future disasters.