BUDDHIST PRINCIPLES INTEGRATION FOR PROMOTING THE LIFE QUALITY OF ELDERLY OF SUBDISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION IN PHRA NAKHON SI AYUTTHAYA DISTRICT, PHRA NAKHON SI AYUTTHAYA PROVINCE

Abstract

Objectives of this research article were: 1. To study the current conditions of the life quality of elderly of Subdistrict Administrative Organization in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. 2. To study the factors affecting the life quality of elderly of Subdistrict Administrative Organization in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, and  3. To propose the process for Promoting the life quality according to Buddhist principles integration for elderly of Subdistrict Administrative Organization in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. Methodology was mixed methods research. The quantitative research involved a sample of 389 residents living within the Subdistrict Administrative Organization areas in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, selected through stratified random sampling. The research instrument was a questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.913. The statistics used for data analysis included percentage, mean, standard deviation, and multiple regression analysis. For the qualitative research, the key informants consisted of administrators of Subdistrict Administrative Organizations, scholars in Public Administration and Buddhism, and members of the public, totaling 18 participants. The research instrument was an interview form, and the data were analyzed using content analysis.

Findings were as follows: 1. The overall quality of life of older persons in the Subdistrict Administrative Organizations in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District was at a high level. 2. The quality-of-life promotion factors were able to jointly predict the quality of life of older persons at 63.3 percent, while the Bhavana 4 principles jointly predicted the quality of life at 78 percent. Both the quality-of-life promotion factors and the Bhavana 4 principles significantly affected the quality of life of older persons at the 0.01 level. 3. The process of promoting the quality of life of older persons through Buddhist integration consisted of: 3.1 Seven quality-of-life promotion activities, namely income-generating activities, social participation activities, health promotion activities, recreational activities, lifelong learning activities, volunteer activities, and environmental care activities; and 3.2 The application of the Bhavana 4 principles, including Kayabhavana for promoting physical health, Silabhavana for developing morality and ethics, Cittabhavana for promoting mental well-being and inner peace, and Paññabhavana for enhancing wisdom, learning, and understanding of life.