A Causal Relationship Model of Buddhist Psychological Factors Affecting Resilience Quotient of Private Employees

Abstract

This research aimed to: 1.  develop a causal relationship model of Buddhist psychological factors influencing the enhancement of emotional and mental resilience among private company employees; 2.  examine the goodness of fit between the developed model and empirical data; and 2. analyze the causal pathways of Buddhist psychological factors affecting the enhancement of emotional and mental resilience among private company employees. A mixed-methods approach was employed. In Phase 1, the quantitative study involved 400 operational-level employees from private companies in Bangkok, selected through purposive sampling. A questionnaire was used as the research instrument, with a reliability coefficient of .961. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling. In Phase 2, the qualitative study involved 11 participants, including experts in Buddhism and Buddhist psychology, entrepreneurs, and both executive and operational-level employees, also selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through focus group discussions to explore the feasibility and application of the developed model in private company settings. The data were analyzed through thematic summary and descriptive explanation.

The research findings revealed that: (1) the developed causal relationship model comprised six variables—emotional and mental resilience, problem-solving skills, self-awareness, moral consciousness development, self-regulation, and social skills; (2) the model demonstrated good fit with the empirical data (χ² = 43.68, df = 60, χ²/df = 0.73, p = 0.94, GFI = 0.99, AGFI = 0.96, SRMR = 0.01, RMSEA = 0.00, CFI = 1.00), with all variables collectively predicting 93% of the variance in emotional and mental resilience; and (3) all variables had a direct positive influence on emotional and mental resilience, with moral consciousness development exerting the greatest total effect, followed by self-regulation, self-awareness, and social skills, respectively. Problem-solving skills functioned as a mediating variable. Focus group results indicated unanimous agreement among the experts that the developed model could be effectively applied to design interventions aimed at enhancing emotional and mental resilience among private company employees.