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Cited by 0Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchMindfulness and Compassion InterventionsGrief, Bereavement, and Mental Health

Exploring the relationship between post-earthquake trauma, post-traumatic growth, and self-compassion

Open access
Kurtoğlu, Mustafa Batuhan·2026·Journal of Health Psychology
DOI 10.1177/13591053261464387
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Abstract

This study investigated whether self-compassion and its subdimensions predict post-earthquake trauma and post-traumatic growth. Using a cross-sectional correlational design, data were collected from 454 adults (273 women, 181 men; M = 42.85, SD = 10.98) affected by the earthquake in Türkiye. Measures of trauma, post-traumatic growth, and self-compassion were administered. Pearson correlation and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted, controlling for age and gender. Gender significantly predicted both outcomes, with women reporting higher trauma and growth. Common Humanity negatively predicted trauma, while Mindfulness positively predicted post-traumatic growth. Other subdimensions were not significant. Self-compassion components operate through distinct mechanisms: shared humanity reduces distress, whereas mindfulness promotes growth. Targeted interventions enhancing these components may support recovery after disasters.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1177/13591053261464387

Cites

47 of 47 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

1 of 23 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Findingown data

    Post-earthquake trauma level was correlated with post-traumatic growth (r = -0.55, p < 0.001).

    “First, it was found that the participants' level of trauma after the earthquake was directly related to their posttraumatic growth (r = -0.55,p < 0.001).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Mindfulness positively predicted post-traumatic growth.

    “Common Humanity negatively predicted trauma, while Mindfulness positively predicted post-traumatic growth.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Among self-compassion subdimensions, only common humanity (β=-0.26, p<0.001) significantly predicted post-earthquake trauma.

    “Among the sub-dimensions of self-compassion, only common humanity (β = -0.26,p < 0.001) significantly predicted the level of post-earthquake trauma.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Post-traumatic growth was positively correlated with mindfulness (r = 0.36, p < 0.001).

    “Posttraumatic growth was positively correlated with self-kindness (r = 0.32, p < 0.001), common humanity (r = 0.20, p < 0.001), and mindfulness (r = 0.36, p < 0.001), whereas negatively with self-judgment (r = -0.33,p < 0.001), isolation (r = -0.37,p < 0.001), and overidentification (r = -0.32,p < 0.01).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Step 1 demographic variables explained a significant change in variance in post-traumatic growth: F(4,449) = 9.14, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.07.

    “Step 1, which includes the demographic variables, explains the post-traumatic growth with a significant change in the variance: F(4,449) = 9.14, p < 0.001, R 2 = 0.07.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 20
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 11

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    The severity of the disaster may have exceeded participants' cognitive capacity to reconstruct meaning, supporting the premise that extreme psychological burdens can stifle the growth process.

    “This suggests that the severity of the disaster may have exceeded the participants' cognitive capacity to reconstruct meaning, supporting the premise that extreme psychological burdens can stifle the growth process (Kleim and Ehlers, 2009).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Kleim and Ehlers, 2009 source

      The paper’s introductory discussion describes a group experiencing mostly distress and less growth, which supports a limited association between distress and reduced growth. But the Discussion reports that greater initial fear, shame, and humiliation predicted greater later growth, and cautions that the study of assault survivors cannot establish causation or necessarily generalize to other traumas. It does not assess a disaster or show that extreme burdens exceeded participants’ capacity to reconstruct meaning. (LLM, conf=0.85)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Gender significantly predicted post-earthquake trauma (β=0.73, p<0.001), indicating women experienced greater trauma.

    “it was found that gender significantly predicted the level of post-earthquake trauma ( β = 0.73, p < 0.001), indicating that women experienced greater trauma.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Self-compassion subdimensions other than common humanity (for trauma) and mindfulness (for growth) were not significant predictors.

    “Other subdimensions were not significant.”
    • Also stated in: § Posttraumatic stress disorder after earthquake · plain
      “the negative dimensions of self-compassion (Self-Judgment, Isolation, Over-Identification) did not significantly predict trauma levels (contrary to H2).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Gender significantly predicted both post-earthquake trauma and post-traumatic growth, with women reporting higher levels of both.

    “Gender significantly predicted both outcomes, with women reporting higher trauma and growth.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Self-Kindness and Isolation showed significant correlations with trauma but lost their predictive power in the regression model.

    “Crucially, while other dimensions like Self-Kindness and Isolation showed significant correlations with trauma, they lost their predictive power in the regression model.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Self-compassion components operate through distinct mechanisms, with common humanity reducing distress and mindfulness promoting growth.

    “Self-compassion components operate through distinct mechanisms: shared humanity reduces distress, whereas mindfulness promotes growth.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The normality assumption was met and the regression analysis was not violated.

    “In addition, the variables' normal distribution indicates that the normality assumption is met and that the relevant regression analysis is not violated.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Positive self-compassion dimensions serve as psychological resources in recovery and support positive growth after trauma, whereas negative dimensions may adversely influence psychological well-being.

    “While positive dimensions play a crucial role as psychological resources in recovery and support an individual's positive growth after trauma, the literature also suggests that negative dimensions may adversely influence psychological well-being.(Karaoğlu and Erzi, 2019).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Karaoğlu and Erzi, 2019 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    Prior checks confirmed that the assumptions of normality and multicollinearity were satisfied for the post-traumatic growth regression.

    “Prior checks confirmed that the assumptions of normality and multicollinearity were satisfied, in line with the preliminary analyses reported above.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    VIF values ranged from 1.5 to 4.2, all below 10, and Tolerance above 0.2, indicating multicollinearity did not pose a substantial threat.

    “Although some selfcompassion sub-dimensions were highly correlated, variance inflation factor (VIF) values ranged from 1.5 to 4.2, all below the commonly accepted threshold of 10, and Tolerance indices were above 0.2, indicating that multicollinearity did not pose a substantial threat to the regression analyses.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The sample size was calculated a priori using G*Power 3.1 with a small effect size (f2 = 0.05), α = 0.05, six predictors, and power = 0.95, yielding a minimum of 424 participants; 454 were recruited, increasing statistical power.

    “Since hierarchical regression analyses were planned, the sample size was calculated using G*Power 3.1, based on Cohen's (1988) effect size criteria.A small effect size (f 2 = 0.05), a significance level (α) of 0.05, and six independent variables were assumed.Although a statistical power of 0.80 is typically recommended, we chose a more conservative power of 0.95 to increase the likelihood of”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cohen's (1988)

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    The Turkish version of the Self-Compassion Scale has internal consistency coefficients ranging from 0.72 to 0.80.

    “The internal consistency coefficients of the Turkish version of the Self-Compassion Scale range from 0.72 to 0.80.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Akın (2007)

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The findings partially support H3 and H4: mindfulness was the only significant positive predictor of PTG (consistent with H3), whereas the negative dimensions did not significantly predict PTG (contrary to H4).

    “These findings partially support H3 and H4: Mindfulness (a positive dimension) was the only significant positive predictor of PTG (consistent with H3), whereas the negative dimensions (Self-Judgment, Isolation, Over-Identification) did not significantly predict PTG (contrary to H4).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The survey platform was configured to accept a single submission per device/browser to reduce the likelihood of duplicate responses.

    “The survey platform was configured to accept a single submission per device/browser to reduce the likelihood of duplicate responses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    The Turkish adaptation of the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory confirmed a three-factor structure via confirmatory factor analysis.

    “In the Turkish adaptation study, Kagan et al. (2012) conducted a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to assess the construct validity of the scale and confirmed its three-factor structure.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Kagan et al. (2012) source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The sample was recruited using simple random sampling, ensuring every individual in the target population had an equal chance of being included.

    “A simple random sampling method was used, ensuring that every individual in the target population had an equal chance of being included.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Skewness and kurtosis values ranged from -0.049 to -0.975, indicating the normality assumption was met within the recommended range of ⩽|2|.

    “As seen in Table 1, the skewness and kurtosis values range from -0.049 to -0.975, indicating that the normality assumption is met within the traditionally recommended range of ⩽|2|.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    A higher level of self-compassion facilitates coping with posttraumatic symptoms and supports post-traumatic growth.

    “The literature highlights that a higher level of self-compassion facilitates coping with posttraumatic symptoms (Özcan, 2019;Zeller et al., 2015) and supports PTG (Maheux and Price, 2016;Tekcan, 2018).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Özcan, 2019

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Zeller et al., 2015 source
    • cites Maheux and Price, 2016 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    Normality was assessed using skewness and kurtosis values, with scores <|2| considered acceptable.

    “normality tests based on skewness and kurtosis values (their scores <|2|; Kline, 2015)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Kline, 2015 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The scale is a reliable and valid measurement tool.

    “These results show that the scale is a reliable and valid measurement tool.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Although women experience more distress, they often engage more frequently in deliberate rumination and social seeking required to find meaning after a disaster.

    “This”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Tedeschi and Calhoun, 2004

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Similar findings in related literature also did not find significant associations with age.

    “However, similar findings in the related literature also did not find significant associations with age (e.g., Çimen, 2020).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Çimen, 2020

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    The belief that suffering is a shared human experience is the primary protective factor against earthquake-related distress, enhancing emotion regulation skills and wellbeing.

    “This suggests that the belief that suffering is a shared human experience is the primary protective factor against earthquake-related distress, which enhances emotion regulation skills and wellbeing (Kotera et al., 2024).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Kotera et al., 2024

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Participants' specific age range may have influenced the result that age did not predict post-earthquake trauma.

    “It is thought that the participants' specific age range may have influenced this result.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Mindfulness allows individuals to observe traumatic thoughts with enough distance to begin rebuilding their worldview, which is the cornerstone of growth.

    “Mindfulness allows individuals to observe their traumatic thoughts with enough distance to begin the process of rebuilding their worldview (Arslan et al., 2024;Kabat-Zinn, 2003), which is the cornerstone of growth (Basharpoor et al., 2020; for a review, see Shiyko et al., 2017).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Arslan et al., 2024 source
    • cites Kabat-Zinn, 2003 source
    • cites Basharpoor et al., 2020

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    In a mass disaster, recognizing that one's pain is shared by the community may facilitate better emotion regulation and prevent personalization of the tragedy, which often exacerbates PTSD symptoms.

    “In the context of a mass disaster like an earthquake, recognizing that one's pain is shared by the community may facilitate better emotion regulation and prevent the”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The cross-sectional design prevents determining whether pre-existing levels of self-compassion predicted post-earthquake outcomes or whether traumatic exposure shaped participants' self-compassion.

    “More specifically, the cross-sectional design prevents determining whether pre-existing levels of self-compassion predicted post-earthquake outcomes, or whether traumatic exposure itself shaped participants' self-compassion.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Exclusive use of online recruitment may have introduced self-selection bias, as those with greater access to technology or more psychological resources may have been more likely to participate.

    “The exclusive use of online recruitment may also have introduced self-selection bias, as those with greater access to technology or more psychological resources may have been more likely to participate.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The present study did not cover other potential moderating or mediating variables, such as coping styles, personality traits, or social support.

    “Lastly, while investigating multiple dimensions of self-compassion, the present study did not cover other potential moderating or mediating variables, such as coping styles, personality traits, or social support.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
29 of 29

Statistics recomputed

Every reported test result, recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom. A result shows as not adding up only once an independent check has confirmed it.

  • ConsistentF(4, 449) = 22.2reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(4,449) = 22.20, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(10, 443) = 21.3reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(10,443) = 21.30,p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(4, 449) = 9.14reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(4,449) = 9.14, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(10, 443) = 13.04reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(10,443) = 13.04,p < .001”

4 of 4

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Recruitment does not match the claimed random sampling

    Major

    The paper says everyone in the target population had an equal chance of inclusion, but describes distributing a voluntary online survey through social media and community networks. It also acknowledges that online recruitment could produce self-selection bias.

  • Ethics approval is dated after data collection

    Major

    Data were collected in 2023, but the stated ethics approval date is April 2025. This also conflicts with the procedure's statement that approval was obtained before data collection.

  • Postgraduate percentage does not match its frequency

    Minor

    Twenty-five of 454 participants is about 5.5%, not the reported 5.7%.

    Reported 5.7 · recomputed 5.506608

  • Stated skewness and kurtosis range excludes positive values

    Minor

    The stated range runs only from negative values, whereas Table 2 includes positive skewness and kurtosis values, including 0.331 and 0.603 for self-judgment.

  • Two values are given for the same trauma-self-kindness correlation

    Minor

    The results paragraph reports this correlation as −0.40 and then as −0.39; Table 3 agrees with the latter value.

5 of 5

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 14

  1. Akın Ü (2007) Self-compassion scale: The study of validity and reliability. HU Journal of Education 33: 1.
  2. Basharpoor S, Aziziaram S, Heidari F (2020) The causal modeling of post-traumatic growth in earthquake-stricken individuals based on social support, mindfulness, and rumination with mediating role of acceptance and action. Community Health 8(2): 247–263.
  3. Bolu A Erdem M Öznur T (2014) Travma sonrası stres bozukluğu. Anatolian Journal of Clinical Investigation 8(2): 98–104. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1754470X16000209 · DOI
  4. Bozkurt V (2023) Depremin toplumsal boyutu. Avrasya Dosyası 14(1): 77–99.
  5. Çavuşoğlu İ, Karaaziz M (2024) 2023 Hatay depremini yaşayanlarda travma sonrası stres bozukluğu belirtilerinde psikolojik esnekliğin aracı rolü üzerine derleme. Ulusal ve Uluslararası Sosyoloji ve Ekonomi Dergisi 5(6): 1004–1014.
  6. Çimen S (2020) Öldürmeyen acı güçlendirir mi? Travma sonrası büyüme ve kolektivistik başa çıkma stillerinin ilişkisi. Türkiye Bütüncül Psikoterapi Dergisi 3(5): 158–174.
  7. Cohen J (1988) Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences (2nd ed.). Erlbaum.
  8. Gökmen G, Deniz ME (2020) Travma sonrası büyümenin yordayıcıları olarak öz-anlayış ve affetme. Uluslararası Türk Kültür Coğrafyasında Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 5(2): 72–93.
  9. Haspolat A (2019) Travma sonrası stres belirtileri ve travma sonrası büyüme. Master’s thesis.
  10. Karaoğlu M, Erzi S (2019) Yeme tutumları ve travmatik yaşantılar: Öz şefkat ve duygu düzenlemenin aracı rolü. Kıbrıs Türk Psikiyatri ve Psikoloji Dergisi 1(3): 145–151.
  11. Özcan NA (2019) Yetişkinlerde travma sonrası stres ve öz duyarlılık. OPUS International Journal of Society Researches 14(20): 621–642.
  12. Tanhan F, Kayri M (2013) Deprem sonrası travma düzeyini belirleme ölçeği. Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Bilimleri 13(2): 1013–1025.
  13. Tedeschi RG, Calhoun LG (2004) Posttraumatic growth: A new perspective. Psychiatric Times 21(4): 58–60.
  14. Tekcan EE (2018) Travma sonrası stres ve büyüme ilişkisi. Master’s thesis.

Related

Authors
Kurtoğlu, M. B.
Affiliations
Hasan Kalyoncu University (TR)
Corresponding author
Kurtoğlu, Mustafa Batuhan
ORCID
Kurtoğlu, Mustafa Batuhan
Venue
Journal of Health Psychology
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2026-07-19
Pages
13591053261464387-13591053261464387
ISSN
  • 1359-1053 (ISSN-L)
  • 1461-7277
DOI
10.1177/13591053261464387
OpenAlex
W7169753219
Cited by
0
References
44
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Health Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Hasan Kalyoncu University Institutional Repository (Hasan Kalyoncu University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
Keywords
self-compassion, posttraumatic growth, earthquake survivors, common humanity, mindfulness, gender differences, disaster recovery, psychological distress

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-11.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-11.

Cited sources are checked by gpt-6-sol.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

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