The effects of happy Muslim family activities on reduction of domestic violence against Thai-Muslim spouses in Satun province

Abstract

     The objective of this study was to examine the effects of happy Muslim family activities on a decrease in domestic violence against Thai-Muslim spouses in Satun province, Thailand. This experimental study was conducted with 40 married Thai Muslim couples in Satun province, with 20 couples in the experimental group, and the other 20 in the control group. They were recruited using simple random sampling and randomized matching methods. The experimental group participated in happy Muslim family activities while the control group participated in normal community activities. The study employed a true control group pretest and posttest design and the data-collecting instrument was a screening questionnaire for domestic violence risk behaviors among Thai Muslim married couples. The data were analyzed using the mean, standard deviation, and t-test. The study found that before participation in the activities, significantly more subjects in the experimental group who participated in happy Muslim family activities had violent behaviors against their spouses than those in the control group who participated in normal community activities. However, after participating in the happy Muslim family activities, those in the experimental group used significantly less domestic violence against their spouses when compared with those in the control group.