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Journals / Kıbrıs Türk Psikiyatri ve Psikoloji Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2

The Psychological Effects of Exposure to Earthquake-Related Content on Social Media: Emotional Contagion, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Self-Care

Sosyal Medyada Deprem İçeriklerine Maruz Kalmanın Psikolojik Etkileri: Duygusal Bulaşma, İkincil Travmatik Stres ve Öz-Bakım

İrem Yıldırım(Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi)0009-0002-5961-6291
Zöhre Kaya(VAN YÜZÜNCÜ YIL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-9211-3632
Pages
131–138
Publication Date
2026-06-24
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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

It was found that the total self-care score did not mediate the relationship between emotional contagion and secondary traumatic stress.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:This study aims to examine the relationships between exposure to traumatic images on social media, emotional contagion, secondary traumatic stress, and self-care.
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Key Findings & Data:The research was conducted with 447 young and adult individuals.
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Conclusion & Impact:It was found that the total self-care score did not mediate the relationship between emotional contagion and secondary traumatic stress.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:sosyal medya · duygusal bulaşma · ikincil travmatik stress

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationships between exposure to traumatic images on social media, emotional contagion, secondary traumatic stress, and self-care. The research was conducted with 447 young and adult individuals. The data collection tools included a Personal Information Form, the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale for Social Media Users, the Emotional Contagion Scale, and the Mindfulness-Based Self-Care Scale. Pearson Correlation Analysis was used to examine the relationships between the variables. Regression analysis was conducted using the PROCESS v3.4 macro developed for SPSS to examine the mediating role of self-care. The results revealed a significant positive relationship between following earthquake posts and secondary traumatic stress. A significant positive relationship was found between emotional contagion and secondary traumatic stress. In contrast, a significant negative relationship was observed between two sub-dimensions of self-care skills -physical care and supportive structure- and secondary traumatic stress. It was found that the total self-care score did not mediate the relationship between emotional contagion and secondary traumatic stress. The findings indicate that traumatic content encountered on social media can have a direct and powerful impact on individuals. The limited effect of self-care suggests that individuals' ways of coping with emotional burdens on social media may require more profound psychological interventions.

Özet

Sosyal medya aracılığıyla ortaya çıkabilen ikincil travmatik stresin farkına varılarak bireysel ve toplumsal önlemlerin alınması önem arz etmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, sosyal medyada travmatik görüntülere maruz kalma, duygusal bulaşma, ikincil travmatik stres ve öz-bakım arasındaki ilişkileri incelemektir. Araştırma, Türkiye’nin çeşitli illerinde yaşayan 447 genç ve yetişkin birey ile yürütülmüştür. Veri toplama aracı olarak, Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Sosyal Medya Kullanıcıları İçin İkincil Travmatik Stres Ölçeği, Duygusal Bulaşma Ölçeği ve Bilinçli Farkındalık Temelli Öz-bakım Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Değişkenler arasındaki ilişkilerin incelenmesinde Pearson Korelasyon Analizi kullanılmıştır. Öz-bakımın aracı rolünü incelemek için SPSS için geliştirilen PROCESS v3.4 eklentisi ile regresyon analizi yapılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda, deprem paylaşımlarını takip etme ile ikincil travmatik stres arasında pozitif yönde ve anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu ortaya konmuştur. Duygusal bulaşma ile ikincil travmatik stres arasında pozitif yönde anlamlı; öz-bakım becerilerinin 2 alt boyutu olan fiziksel bakım ve destekleyici yapı ile ikincil travmatik stres arasında negatif yönde anlamlı ilişki olduğu ortaya konmuştur. Bu anlamlı ilişkilere rağmen öz-bakım toplam puanın duygusal bulaşma ve ikincil travmatik stres arasındaki ilişkiye aracılık etmediği görülmüştür. Bulgular, sosyal medya üzerinden maruz kalınan travmatik içeriklerin bireyler üzerinde doğrudan ve güçlü bir etkisi olabileceğine işaret etmektedir. Öz-bakımın sınırlı etkisi ise bireylerin sosyal medya üzerindeki duygusal yüklerle başa çıkma biçimlerinin daha derin psikolojik müdahalelere ihtiyaç duyduğunu göstermektedir.

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Cite This Article

Yıldırım, İ., Kaya, Z. (2026). The Psychological Effects of Exposure to Earthquake-Related Content on Social Media: Emotional Contagion, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Self-Care. Kıbrıs Türk Psikiyatri ve Psikoloji Dergisi, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2, 131–138. https://doi.org/10.35365/ctjpp.26.2.03

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