Sex disparities in psychosocial distress among medical students with indirect exposure to the 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquakes.

BACKGROUND

The psychological impact of disasters extends beyond directly exposed populations to those indirectly affected through close social networks. Sex is a critical factor of post-trauma outcomes, yet its role in shaping the mental health of indirectly exposed individuals remains underexplored.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates sex-based disparities in psychosocial distress among a cohort remotely exposed to a major earthquake.

METHODS

Approximately 3 months after the 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquakes, 129 Turkish medical students with indirect exposure (e.g. via affected relatives or close social circles) took part in this cross-sectional study, completing a structured anxiety survey and a self-report form. The self-report form assessed academic stress, health behaviors (smoking, alcohol use, exercise, and nutrition status), and lifestyle factors.

RESULTS

After Bonferroni correction, no variable remained statistically significant. However, using the Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate procedure, peer bullying was associated with sex (χ2(3) = 13.581, p_FDR = .046, Cramer's V = 0.324). All other chi-square tests were nonsignificant under both correction methods.

CONCLUSION

After rigorous correction, sex differences were largely attenuated. Peer bullying showed a possible association under FDR, but not under Bonferroni, suggesting the need for larger confirmatory studies.