Journals / Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine / 2026 / Volume: 8 Issue: 3

Pain intensity, fear of movement, and fear of falling in earthquake suvivors in Turkiye: a cross-sectional observational study

Türkiye'deki depremzedelerde ağrı şiddeti, hareket korkusu ve düşme korkusu: kesitsel gözlemsel çalışma

Nagihan Acet(Atılım Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi)0000-0002-3221-528X
Naime Uluğ(Atılım Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi)0000-0002-3062-1655
Sena Begen(Atılım Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi)0000-0003-2913-2712
Nur Sena Yarımkaya(Ministry of Youth and Sports, Hacı Ömer Sabancı Girls' Dormitory)0000-0002-1178-8505
Erden Kılıç(Atılım Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi)0000-0001-6098-9576
Hülya Arıkan(HACETTEPE ÜNİVERSİTESİ, FİZİK TEDAVİ VE REHABİLİTASYON FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-0028-4256
Pages
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Publication Date
2025-05-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These findings highlight the need for post-disaster rehabilitation strategies that address pain intensity, fear-related responses while considering psychological resilience.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Aims: On February 6, 2023, devastating earthquakes struck 11 provinces in Turkiye, leading to significant physical and psychological consequences for survivors.
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Key Findings & Data:Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study included 184 survivors (93 males-91 females; mean age: 34.02±10.76 years) with no pre-earthquake pain or physical trauma.
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Conclusion & Impact:These findings highlight the need for post-disaster rehabilitation strategies that address pain intensity, fear-related responses while considering psychological resilience.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:2023 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Earthquakes · pain · kinesiophobia

Abstract

Aims: On February 6, 2023, devastating earthquakes struck 11 provinces in Turkiye, leading to significant physical and psychological consequences for survivors. This study aimed to determine the frequency of pain intensity, fear of movement, and fear of falling among earthquake survivors and to examine their relationships with each other, as well as with psychological resilience and physical activity level. Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study included 184 survivors (93 males-91 females; mean age: 34.02±10.76 years) with no pre-earthquake pain or physical trauma. Pain intensity, fear of movement, fear of falling, physical activity level, and psychological resilience were assessed using the ‘Numerical Pain Scale’, ‘Causes of Fear of Movement Scale’, ‘Modified Falls Efficacy Scale’, ‘Short Form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire’, and ‘Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale’, respectively between May 02/2023 and July 30/2023. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to examine associations between these parameters. Results: 46.7% of participants had fear of movement, 33.2% had fear of falling, and 37.7-50.5% experienced moderate to severe pain. Fear of movement was significantly associated with pain intensity, including headache (r=0.275, p 0.05). Conclusion: Fear of movement, fear of falling, and pain intensity are prevalent among survivors who had no prior pain and did not sustain physical trauma during the disaster. These factors are closely interrelated, independent of physical activity level. Psychological resilience plays a critical role in fear-related responses. These findings highlight the need for post-disaster rehabilitation strategies that address pain intensity, fear-related responses while considering psychological resilience.

Özet

Amaç: 6 Şubat 2023'te Türkiye'deki 11 ilde meydana gelen yıkıcı depremler, hayatta kalanlar üzerinde önemli fiziksel ve psikolojik etkiler bırakmıştır. Bu çalışma, depremzedelerde ağrı şiddeti, hareket korkusu ve düşme korkusunun sıklığını belirlemeyi ve bunların birbirleriyle olan ilişkilerini, ayrıca psikolojik dayanıklılık ve fiziksel aktivite düzeyi ile bağlantılarını incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Yöntemler: Bu gözlemsel, kesitsel çalışmaya, deprem öncesinde ağrısı veya fiziksel travması bulunmayan 184 hayatta kalan (93 erkek, 91 kadın; yaş ortalaması: 34,02 ± 10,76 yıl) dahil edilmiştir. Ağrı şiddeti, hareket korkusu, düşme korkusu, fiziksel aktivite düzeyi ve psikolojik dayanıklılık sırasıyla ‘Sayısal Ağrı Skalası’, ‘Hareket Korkusu Nedenleri Ölçeği’, ‘Modifiye Düşme Etkililik Ölçeği’, ‘Uluslararası Fiziksel Aktivite Anketi Kısa Formu’ ve ‘Connor-Davidson Dayanıklılık Ölçeği’ kullanılarak 02 Mayıs 2023 ile 30 Temmuz 2023 tarihleri arasında değerlendirilmiştir. Bu parametreler arasındaki ilişkileri incelemek için Pearson korelasyon analizi uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: Katılımcıların %46,7’sinde hareket korkusu, %33,2’sinde düşme korkusu ve %37,7–50,5’inde orta ila şiddetli ağrı gözlenmiştir. Hareket korkusu, baş ağrısı (r = 0,275, p 0,05). Sonuç: Deprem sırasında fiziksel travma geçirmeyen ve önceden ağrısı olmayan hayatta kalanlar arasında hareket korkusu, düşme korkusu ve ağrı şiddeti yaygındır. Bu faktörler, fiziksel aktivite düzeyinden bağımsız olarak birbirleriyle yakından ilişkilidir. Psikolojik dayanıklılık, korkuya bağlı tepkilerde kritik bir rol oynamaktadır. Bu bulgular, afet sonrası rehabilitasyon stratejilerininde ağrı şiddetini ve korkuya bağlı tepkileri ele alırken, psikolojik dayanıklılığının da göz önünde bulundurması gerektiğini vurgulamaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Acet, N., Uluğ, N., Begen, S., Yarımkaya, N. S., Kılıç, E., Arıkan, H. (2025). Pain intensity, fear of movement, and fear of falling in earthquake suvivors in Turkiye: a cross-sectional observational study. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, Volume: 8 Issue: 3. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1649505

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