Promoting the quality of life for the coast community in the Ban Don area, Suratthani Province

Abstract

          The study entitled “Promoting the quality of life for the coast community in the Ban Don area, Suratthani Province” aimed to: 1) investigate the conditions and context of coastal communities in the Bandon Bay area; 2) assess the level of quality of life of these coastal communities in the Bandon Bay area; and 3) study the promotion of quality of life for coastal communities in the Bandon Bay area, Surat Thani Province. This research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative methods. Data were collected through document review, interviews, focus group discussions, and questionnaires. Key informants consisted of 30 individuals, including community leaders, core community members, local scholars, community representatives, head of community club, and stakeholders involved in promotion and development, selected via purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using content analysis. The sample size was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan table, resulting in 357 participants selected through simple random sampling from the local population. Quantitative data were analyzed using the SPSS software package.

          The research results revealed the following: 1) Regarding community conditions and context, it was found that the coastal communities in the Bandon Bay area are flat terrain and coastal lowlands, rich in aquatic resources and abundant mangrove forests. The majority of the population are native locals of diverse ethnic backgrounds who use the Southern Thai dialect for communication. Relationships are still based on kinship systems and close-knit groups. In the past, people lived interdependently; however, current living conditions are more comfortable, but the lifestyle has become more hurried, resulting in decreased mutual generosity. 2) Regarding the level of quality of life, it was found that the overall quality of life of the coastal communities was at a high level. When considering specific aspects, social relationships were at the highest level, followed by the psychological, environmental, and physical aspects, all of which were at a high level. 3) Regarding the promotion of quality of life for coastal communities in the Bandon Bay area, it was found that (1) Physical aspect: Training should be organized to provide knowledge on good health care beneficial to physical well-being; (2) Psychological aspect: Promoting positive attitudes, recognizing the value of life, accepting circumstances, and being able to relieve stress; (3) Social relationship aspect: Maintaining good relationships, establishing social support networks within the community, and participating in decision-making to foster good relationships at all levels; and (4) Environmental aspect: Promoting natural resource conservation, ensuring a safe environment, and maintaining areas conducive to living and suitable for residence and occupation.