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Pain intensity, fear of movement, and fear of falling in earthquake survivors in Turkiye: a cross-sectional observational study
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<0.001), neck pain (r=0.294, p<0.001), upper back pain (r=0.262, p<0.001), and low back pain (r=0.284, p<0.001). Similarly, fear of falling (higher scores indicate lower fear) was positively associated with pain intensity, including headache (r=0.202, p=0.006), neck pain (r=0.179, p=0.015), upper back pain (r=0.191, p=0.010), and low back pain (r=0.282, p<0.001). Both fear of movement (r=-0.243, p=0.001) and fear of falling (r=0.220, p=0.003) were significantly associated with psychological resilience, while neither was correlated with physical activity level (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.

Keywords : Earthquakes, pain, kinesiophobia, falling, psychological resilience

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Article available in :
Volume 8, Issue 3, 2025
Page : 375-382
https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1649505
Article Information
Received : 01 Mar 2025
Accepted : 24 Mar 2025
Published : 30 May 2025
Corresponding Author :

Nagihan Acet: Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Atılım University, Ankara, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Acet N, Uluğ N, Begen S, Yarımkaya NS, Kılıç E, Arıkan H. Pain intensity, fear of movement, and fear of falling in earthquake survivors in Turkiye: a cross-sectional observational study. J Health Sci Med. 2025;8(3):375-382.

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