Exploring curvilinear and reciprocal relationships between posttraumatic stress and growth in adolescents and mothers following a major earthquake

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly occurs in adolescents and adults following earthquakes. Conversely, they may also experience posttraumatic growth, which can enhance their functioning and overall well-being. Notably, parental and children's PTSD and posttraumatic growth can be reciprocal, particularly in cases where both parents and children are exposed to the disaster. The present study examined PTSD symptoms and posttraumatic growth among both adolescents and their mothers in the aftermath of the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake in Türkiye. This study included adolescents (n = 198) aged 10–18 years and their mothers, all of whom were patients at a child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic. Data were collected through structured face-to-face interviews, adhering to DSM-5 criteria, from July to August 2024, approximately 17–18 months post-earthquake. According to clinical evaluations, 6.1% of adolescents (n = 12) were diagnosed with PTSD. There was a curvilinear relationship between PTSD symptoms and posttraumatic growth in both adolescents and their mothers. Additionally, adolescents' posttraumatic growth positively predicted maternal posttraumatic growth scores, but not vice versa. These findings underscore the interconnectedness of PTSD symptoms between parents and children, emphasizing the need to monitor both groups' well-being during the post-earthquake period. Additional longitudinal research is needed to comprehensively investigate the relationship between PTSD and posttraumatic growth in both adolescents and their parents.