MODEL FOR STRENGTHENING THE MENTAL RESILIENCE OF PALLIATIVE CARE VOLUNTEERS ACCORDING TO BUDDHIST PRINCIPLES IN TRON DISTRICT, UTTARADIT PROVINCE

Abstract

This research aimed to: 1) examine the contextual conditions, problems, and needs related to psychological resilience enhancement among volunteers engaged in end-of-life care; 2) develop a Buddhist-based model for strengthening the psychological resilience of end-of-life care volunteers; and 3) evaluate the effectiveness of the developed model. A mixed methods research design was employed. The sample consisted of 35 participants, comprising Buddhist monks, volunteers, interdisciplinary professionals, public health officers, and patients' relatives. Research instruments included surveys, interview forms, focus group discussions, and a psychological resilience assessment scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, pre- and post-test mean comparisons, and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA).

The findings were as follows:

1) The research context was characterized by a community with kinship-based social relations and an ongoing integration of Buddhist principles into end-of-life care practices. Key problems identified included a lack of knowledge in palliative care, high workloads, emotional exhaustion, and time constraints. Participants expressed a need for skill development in Buddhist-based psychological resilience enhancement.

2) The developed model comprised three core components: Buddhist Dhamma principles, Buddhist-oriented learning processes, and mental development activities, constructed under the ADDIE Model framework. The model was designed to strengthen psychological resilience across five dimensions: mindfulness and emotional self-awareness; compassion toward oneself and others; acceptance of impermanence and death; emotional stability in the face of suffering; and wisdom in perceiving life as meaningful.

3) The effectiveness evaluation revealed that participants' levels of psychological resilience after completing the training program were significantly higher than before training. ANCOVA results confirmed that the developed model effectively enhanced psychological resilience across all five dimensions at a statistically significant level of .05.