A Study of Community Mindset and Lifestyles in Response to Social Change in Na Siew Subdistrict, Mueang Chaiyaphum District, Chaiyaphum Province

Abstract

This study aimed to 1) examine the community mindset derived from social capital and community lifestyles in response to social change; and 2) investigate factors influencing changes in community lifestyles in Na Siew Subdistrict, Mueang Chaiyaphum District, Chaiyaphum Province. A mixed-methods research design was employed, integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches. In the first phase, qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with 12 key informants, including community leaders and residents from eight villages in Na Siew Subdistrict. In the second phase, the population comprised 1,864 households, with a sample size of 329 participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including percentage, mean, and standard deviation and content analysis for descriptive interpretation.

The research findings can be summarized as follows:

1. The community mideset derived from social capital and community lifestyles in response to social change in Na Siew Subdistrict is shaped under the administration of Na Siew Subdistrict Administrative Organization. As a result, livelihoods, occupational patterns, and local development practices closely align with national policies.The community is situated in a fertile area, and most residents engage in agriculture and livestock farming. Strong traditions, cultural practices, and belief systems serve as a unifying force in the community. In response to social change, the community has adapted from traditional agriculture to integrated farming practices and has increasingly adopted information technology and online communication. However, these changes have affected the social structure, leading to weakened kinship relationships and a gradual decline in the transmission of local wisdom. In addition, most community leaders hold formal administrative positions rather than charismatic leadership roles, contributing to reduced community cohesion and posing challenges to sustainable community development.

2. Several key factors have influenced changes in community lifestyles in Na Siew Subdistrict, including: 1) drug-related problems, which significantly affect overall quality of life, particularly among youth; 2) declining community participation; 3) the loss of local knowledge and wisdom, especially that of local sages, which forms a fundamental basis for livelihoods and reliance on local resources; 4) weakened community leadership due to increased responsibilities and pressures arising from rapid and diverse external changes; and 5) the lack of effective knowledge management and intergenerational transmission of knowledge within the community.