The Political Leadership in Accordance with the Buddhist way of Local Executives for the Development of the Quality of Life of the Elderly in Sam Sung District, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

This thesis aims to: 1) study the level of political leadership in improving the quality of life of the elderly in Sam Sung District, Khon Kaen Province; 2) examine the relationship between the Four Principles of Gharāvāsa-dhamma (householder’s virtues) and the development of the elderly’s quality of life; and 3) propose approaches to promoting political leadership based on Buddhist principles for enhancing the quality of life of the elderly. A mixed-methods research approach was employed, combining quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative study used questionnaires administered to 367 elderly individuals, and the data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The qualitative study involved in-depth interviews with 12 key informants, and the data were analyzed through content analysis.

The research findings revealed that: 1) the overall quality of life of the elderly in Sam Sung District was at a high level; 2) factors significantly related to political leadership among local administrators included ideological influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration, and the Four Principles of Gharāvāsa-dhamma—charity (cāga), truthfulness (sacca), self-discipline (dama), and patience (khanti)—which were statistically significant at the 0.01 level;
3) the proposed leadership enhancement strategies included impartial administration, respect for the elderly, effective communication with credible information, empathy, problem-solving skills, and consistent support. These qualities reflect a form of leadership that elderly citizens can truly rely on, and they serve as a foundation for sustainable improvement in the quality of life at the local level.