Factors Related to the Quality of Life of the Elderly at the Buddhist Elderly School in Khlong Pang Subdistrict, Ratsada District, Trang Province.

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate factors related to the quality of life of the elderly at the Buddhist Elderly School in Khlong Pang Subdistrict, Ratsada District, Trang Province. The sample comprised 80 elderly members of the Buddhist Elderly School, Khlong Pang Subdistrict Dhamma Way. The study employed a questionnaire covering personal characteristics, economic, environmental, social, and health factors. Additionally, a World Health Organization questionnaire assessed the quality of life of the elderly. Data analysis involved percentage values, mean, standard deviation, the Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test for group variables, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient for continuous variables.

The study revealed that the overall quality of life of the elderly at the Buddhist Way of the Elderly School, Khlong Pang Subdistrict, Ratsada District, Trang Province, is at a moderate level (M = 70.01, SD = 10.44). Social factors, specifically access to information (r = 0.543, p < 0.001), and health factors in physical (r = 0.610, p < 0.001), social (r = 0.584, p < 0.001), and intellectual dimensions (r = 0.473, p < 0.001), were significantly related to the quality of life of the elderly. Therefore, it is recommended that the elderly be encouraged to receive health information from the community through technological communication platforms such as Line, the Internet, and Facebook. Moreover, fostering awareness of one’s health status is crucial. These initiatives aim to empower the elderly to manage their physical health through regular check-ups, ultimately contributing to an improved quality of life and long-term self-reliance.