Thai Family well-being Based on Family Life Cycle: South Region of Thailand

Abstract

“Thai Family Well-being Based on Family Life Cycle: South Region, Thailand” is part of an integrated study on Thai families based on the second phase of the family life cycle. It aims at examining: (1) family life cycle or development and southern family life cycle, based on the perception of the changes in various phases of family life, taking into account an increase or decrease in the number of family members; and (2) family well-being and factors affecting family well-being in the south of Thailand. The methodology used is a research survey on a representative sample of 784 families in the south. The data analysis, the t-test and F-test values (One-way ANOVA) revealed that the sample group consisted of more females and males aged between 41 and 60 years old, with an education level lower than primary education, an average personal income of 8,826 baht/mouth and an average household income of 20,209.39 baht/month, an average age at marriage or entering into partnership of 23.11 years, and with 1 child. Most families were nuclear families. The overall well-being scores of the southern families were high for all of the 9 aspects, the highest being the spiritual aspects and self-sufficient lifestyle. Factors regarding age, educational levels, the numbers of elderly members in the family, offspring and bedridden patients had a positive correlation with family well-being, with statistical significance.Factors affecting the well-being of families in the southern region are economic status, the number of children in a family and the balance between work and family life. The study revealed that the well-being scores were highest among southern families with teenage offspring and then were in gradual decline until they reached an elderly stage, after which (over 80 years old), the well-being scores increased once again. Furthermore, the balance between work and family life has a positive effect on the well-being of the family. Recommendation are that they should be developing the family school course for family well-being care, using the family well-being assessment form 36 topics as an instruments in working with each family type and the concered agencies and also promoting the local development plan for the Southern family well-being on the spiritual.