Abstract
Objectives
This study aims to investigate the relationship between posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) and sleep quality among pregnant earthquake survivors.
Method
A cross-sectional study was designed. The sample consisted of 272 pregnant
earthquake survivors who were admitted to a hospital in southern Türkiye.
Data were collected using “The Personal Information Disclosure Form,” “The
Impact of Event Scale (IES),” and the “Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
(PSQI)”. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, independent
samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear
regression.
Results
The mean IES total score was 41.37±19.73. The mean scores for the IES
subscales were: Intrusion 15.17±8.19, Avoidance 15.25±6.74, and Hyperarousal
10.95±6.40. Considering the diagnostic cut-off value of 33 for PTSD on the
IES, the mean IES score among the pregnant women in this study (41.37±19.73)
indicates that their PTSD levels were above average and they were found to
be at risk for PTSD. In general, positive, significant, but weak
correlations were observed between the scale scores. A non-significant,
positive, and very weak correlation was found between the IES and PSQI total
scores (p>0.05).
Conclusion
Pregnant earthquake survivors exhibited elevated PTSD levels and poor sleep
quality. Although the association between PTSD and sleep quality was weak,
the findings highlight the need for psychological screening and supportive
interventions in antenatal care following disasters.
Keywords
Stress Disorders - Post-Traumatic - Earthquakes - Midwifery