INTEGRATING BUDDHIST PRINCIPLES TO PROMOTE FOOD CONSUMPTION BEHAVIORS OF OLDER PERSONS IN KANCHANABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

The research paper is a mixed research Employed by qualitative research and quantitative research. No fullstop the concept of Buddhist Principles and food consumption behavior of the elderly as a research Framework. Research area is Kanchanaburi Province. The sampling Group consisted of 432 elderly people in Kanchanaburi province selected by a proportional stratified method. The research tools are 2 kinds: 1) the interview form and 2) the questionnaires. Data were analyzed as follows: the quantitative research was employed by Percentage, Mean, Standard Deviation and multiple regression, on the qualitative research data were analyzed by content analysis, It was presented by a descriptive report. The followings are research findings:
The Buddhist principles to promote food consumption among the elderly in Kanchanaburi found that the overall opinion was average at 3.41, a moderate level. While considering each aspect, it was found that the Buddhist principles to promote food consumption in regard to the Kalyanamittata was average at 3.45, the most level. While the Buddhist principle on Indriyasamva to promote organic food consumption is average at 3.34, the least level. The food consumption behavior of the elderly in Kanchanaburi found that the overall opinion was at a moderate level with an average value of 3.36. When having considered in each aspect, it found that the access to food sources was at the most level with an average value of 3.40, while the beliefs about food consumption behavior was at the least level with the mean 3.27. The point of view on the recommendation was emphasized in the knowledge of belief in consuming certain herbs or wild foods for body nourishment. Activities are created together within the family and educating children to buy colorful and appetizing food for the elderly.