Crisis Management and Organizational Trust in 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes
Abstract
Background/Purpose: This study was conducted following the earthquake that occurred in Kahramanmaraş in February 2023. The study aimed to measure the levels of crisis management and organizational trust among participants and to investigate whether there is a relationship between these two variables.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between July and October 2023. The study population consisted of 123 personnel working at a university hospital and volunteering in areas affected by the earthquake. A total of 100 personnel were included in the study. Participants completed an online survey including a Personal Information Form, Crisis Management Scale, and Organizational Trust Scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.
Results: The average crisis management score of participants was 82.48±20.97, while the average organizational trust was 68.39±12.87. A significant and positive correlation was found between crisis management and organizational trust (r=0.790; p<0.001). Additionally, organizational trust significantly and positively predicted crisis management, explaining 32.3% of the variance in crisis management.
Conclusion: The findings of the study have demonstrated the critical role of organizational trust in the effectiveness of crisis management. Increasing trust among employees during crises can lead to faster decision-making and more effective implementation of crisis management strategies. Therefore, organizations should develop and implement strategies to enhance organizational trust during crises.
Keywords
Ethical Statement
This study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Bezmialem Vakıf University on July 26, 2023, with reference number 116591. Additionally, permission was obtained from the relevant university hospital chief physician's office on March 31, 2023, with reference number 102690, for conducting the study and collecting the data. The participants were informed about the purpose and significance of the study, and their written and verbal consent were obtained.
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Public Health (Other)
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
January 16, 2026
Submission Date
August 7, 2025
Acceptance Date
October 3, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 17 Number: January, February, March 2026