Buddhist Innovation for Enhancing Mental Strength and The Quality of Family Life for Those Who Care for the Disabled

Abstract

Objectives of this research article were: (1) examine a model for strengthening mental resilience to enhance the quality of life of families caring for persons with disabilities through Buddhist innovation, and (2) present the evaluation results of this resilience-building intervention. A mixed-methods research design was employed. Key informants included 17 experts, professionals, village health volunteers, provincial and local academic officers, and community leaders. The sample group consisted of 60 families of caregivers of persons with disabilities in Koh Kret, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi Province. Research instruments included in-depth interviews, activity sets, surveys, and questionnaires. Quantitative data were analyzed using t-test statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.

The findings revealed that: 1) the model for promoting resilience comprised a four-phase activity set: (a) strengthening inner motivation for caregiving, (b) bonding family ties, (c) open communication for mutual understanding, and (d) positive communication. Complementary activities included knowledge sharing, connecting community support, and developing caregiver networks. 2) The evaluation results indicated that caregivers’ overall mental resilience scores after the intervention were significantly higher than before the intervention at the .01 level. Qualitative findings further confirmed that the caregivers’ behaviors, guided by Buddhist psychological perspectives, improved positively after participation in the program.