DEVELOPMENT OF A SELF-RELIANT PROCESS BASED ON BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY FOR QUALITY OF LIFE IN ELDERLY THAI POPULATION

Year 2019, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 11 - 20, 30.09.2019

Anshitta Harnkijroong Lampong Klomkul

Abstract

The purposes of this research were 1) to study the integration of Buddhist princi-ple and psychological theory for encouragement of self-reliance for quality of life in elderly people, and 2) to propose the self-reliance process based on Buddhist psychology for quality of life in elderly Thai population. Qualitative research was used for research design. The researcher used an in-depth interview from the key informants who were scholars and specialists related to elderly, psychology and Buddhism. Focus group discussion of the self-reliant elderly aged was also used for data collection. The research tools were interview schedule and guide-line question for focus group discussion. Content analysis and analytic induction were used for analyzing data. The research results were as follows: 1) self-reliance for the development quality of life in elderly people was integrated by the characteristics of the four paths of accomplishment in Buddhism and psycho-logical theory of the optimistic attitude building and the self-competency aware-ness. 2) There were 2 sub-processes related to the self-reliance process based on Buddhist psychology for quality of life in elderly Thai population. The first sub-process was to develop and promote the optimistic attitude towards life by keep-ing follow with the news in the modern world, future policy, new innovative products, continue life-long learning, and promoting in the characteristics of the four paths of accomplishment by practicing the training in meditation regularly and doing activities with intention in order to achieve the good outcomes, having a value and benefit to others and oneself. The second sub-process was to improve and solve problems in the elderly themselves by practicing to learn to know themselves with the meditation practice to create mindfulness and wisdom when encountering the appeared problems. Therefore, they could search for the cause, way in coping, and solving execution totally by themselves.

Keywords

Buddhist Psychology, Elderly Thai Population, Quality of Life, Self-reliant Process

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