While traumatic events such as natural disasters and earthquakes can have serious negative effects on children's mental health, children and adolescents may exhibit various behaviors depending on their age group. Especially in young children, there may be serious regression in the early stages, and this regression may tend to tend towards younger ages, such as incontinence and baby talk. Experts state that it is normal to see such behaviors in the early stages.
NP Etiler Medical Center Psychiatry Specialist Asst. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melek Gözde Luş evaluated the reactions of children and adolescents after the earthquake.
Psychological Effects of the Earthquake on Children
Stating that due to sudden events such as earthquakes and natural disasters, children and adolescents can change their habitual patterns, Asst. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melek Gözde Luş said, "Traumas can be observed with the disruption of the daily lives and patterns of children and adolescents."
Noting that children's sense of trust is shaken due to the event, Asst. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melek Gözde Luş warned, "Since children's trust is shaken, they are both in fear for the future and their sense of competence decreases, accompanied by a deep sense of sadness and loss."
What are the Physical Effects of an Earthquake on Children?
Stating that various reactions can be observed in children and young people due to this feeling of loss, Assist. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melek Gözde Luş said, "It is important to know that such reactions will occur in children according to their age group and in adolescents in the early period. Especially in young children, there may be a regression to earlier periods called regression.
This regression is the tendency to tend towards younger ages such as missing the toilet, baby talk; in older children, it is behaviors such as looking confused, anger behaviors, freezing and withdrawal."
How Do Post-Traumatic Behavioral Disorders Get Better?
Psychiatry Specialist Assist. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melek Gözde Luş stated that it is very normal to observe these behaviors in the first periods and that they are not a sign of a disease and said, "It is thought that reopening the areas where children spend time together, such as school, will have very positive effects for their psychological state in this process."