People’s Participation and Application of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy that Affect the Development of the Quality of Life of People in Nakhon Nayok Province

Abstract

This research article aims to: (1) Examine the level of quality of life development among residents in Nakhon Nayok Province, (2) Analyze the influence of public participation and the application of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy on quality of life development, and (3) Propose strategies to enhance the quality of life of the local population.The study employed a mixed-methods approach, based on the theoretical frameworks of Cohen and Uphoff, the Department of Community Development's operational plan (2023–2027), and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy. The quantitative sample included 384 residents aged 18 and above, selected from a total population of 260,117 using Krejcie and Morgan’s table. The qualitative component involved in-depth interviews with 15 participants, including local administrators, civil servants, and citizens. Findings revealed that: (1)The overall level of quality of life development was high across all four dimensions, with the highest average in organizational development and the lowest in grassroots economic promotion. (2)Five key factors—moderation, knowledge, reasonableness, morality, and decision-making—significantly influenced quality of life development, jointly predicting 42.8% of the variance at a significance level of .05. 3)Recommended strategies include promoting citizen participation in all stages—policy-making, decision-making, implementation, benefit-sharing, and evaluation—and establishing community committees to collaborate systematically with government agencies, supported by clear and actionable plan