BUDDHADHAMMA INTEGRATION FOR PROMOTING THE ELDERLY LIFE QUALITY OF NONTHABURI MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

This research article aimed to: 1. study the quality of life of older persons in Nonthaburi City Municipality; 2. examine the factors affecting their quality of life; and 3. propose the integration of Buddhist principles to promote the quality of life of older persons in Nonthaburi City Municipality. This study employed a mixed-methods research design. For the quantitative research, data were collected from a sample of 398 respondents using a questionnaire with an overall reliability coefficient of 0.933. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and stepwise multiple regression analysis. For the qualitative research, field data were collected through in-depth interviews with 18 key informants and analyzed using descriptive content analysis. In addition, a focus group discussion was conducted with 10 participants to validate the knowledge synthesized from the findings.

The findings revealed that 1. The overall quality of life of older persons in Nonthaburi City Municipality was at a high level. All individual dimensions were also at a high level, with physical health having the highest mean, followed by environment, psychological well-being, and social relationships, respectively. 2. Regarding the factors affecting the quality of life of older persons, two dimensions of life-course development for older persons security and social participation had statistically significant effects at the 0.01 level and jointly explained 16.0 percent of the variance in quality of life. In addition, two dimensions of the Bhavana 4 principles Paññabhavana (wisdom development) and Silabhavana (behavioral development) had statistically significant effects at the 0.01 level and jointly explained 13.3 percent of the variance; and 3. The integration of Buddhist principles to promote the quality of life of older persons in Nonthaburi City Municipality involved connecting the four dimensions of quality of life, the Bhavana 4 principles, and life-course development for older persons. This integration provides a comprehensive approach to enhancing older persons’ quality of life in terms of physical health, psychological well-being, social relationships, environment, behavior, wisdom, security, and appropriate living in an ageing society.