Ambiguous loss and search for loved ones after the 2023 Türkiye earthquake: A socio-political perspective

This study explores the socio-political grounding of ambiguous loss through newspaper reports on individuals searching for relatives after the 2023 Türkiye earthquake. Data comprises 505 news articles analyzed via deductive thematic analysis iln MAXQDA 2024. Three themes emerged: “socio-political context of the determination of the experience of ambiguous loss”, “Search strategies in a socio-political context”, and “Legal endings and demands”. Findings reveal that ambiguous loss and related emotions, often seen as psychological, are shaped by institutional relationships with hospitals and police, highlighting their socio-political nature. Similarly, legal systems play a central role in defining “missing persons” and regulating access to legal mechanisms. The demands for DNA matching, research commissions, and rubble searches emphasize institutional intervention’s necessity. Recommendations include developing measures for disaster-related missing persons, creating community-based interventions, and providing psychosocial support addressing disaster experiences and ambiguous loss.