Latent profile analysis of earthquake victims: doomscrolling, psychological well-being, emotion regulation and resilience

This study aims to reveal the participant profiles of individuals who directly experienced the two major earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye, on February 6, 2023, based on their levels of doomscrolling, psychological well-being, emotion regulation, and psychological resilience after these experiences. The second aim of the research is to determine whether these profiles are related to the participants’ socio-demographic characteristics. A total of 578 adults who experienced the major earthquakes affecting 10 provinces of Türkiye, centered in Kahramanmaraş, were included in the study through online platforms. Data were collected using self-report scales. The data were analyzed using latent profile analysis. The relationship between participant profiles and socio-demographic variables was examined using the chi-square test. The study results identified three different profiles among the participants. These three profiles differ in terms of post-earthquake psychological well-being, resilience, and emotion regulation skills; the first profile is characterized by a high level of psychological well-being and low levels of suppression and doomscrolling, the second profile is balanced at an average level across all parameters, and the third profile stands out with low psychological well-being and high levels of suppression. Significant relationships were found between psychological profiles and gender, age, city of residence, and parenthood status. Employment status and marital status did not have a noticeable effect on psychological profiles.