Experiences of Posttraumatic Growth in Witnesses to the July 15 Coup Attempt in Turkey

Abstract

The July 15, 2016 coup attempt in Turkey shocked the entire Turkish nation and left deep traces on Turkish citizens. People living in Ankara and İstanbul province were direct witnesses to these events and faced with images that resembled a battle scene. The aim of this research is to reveal the experiences of posttraumatic growth among individuals who directly witnessed the July 15 coup attempt. This qualitative research was carried out with a phenomenological design. Participants in the study consisted of 20 adults living in Ankara and İstanbul. Five themes were found in the analysis: self-perception, new possibilities in life, relating to others, religious/spiritual change, perspective on life, and perception of future. The results of the research showed that many positive changes occurred in the lives of individuals who had a coup experience.