End of Life: Preparing Body, Mind, and Society for a Peaceful Death
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65680/jahs.v4i1.8517Keywords:
peaceful death, end-of-life care, Buddhist psychology, palliative care, elderly ThailandAbstract
This mixed-methods research aimed to: (1) investigate the levels of physical, psychological, and social preparation for a peaceful death among elderly people in Thai Buddhist communities; (2) examine factors influencing peaceful death preparation; and (3) develop a conceptual model for holistic end-of-life preparation integrating Buddhist psychology and modern palliative care principles. The research population comprised elderly individuals aged 60 years and above residing in Buddhist communities in Central Thailand. A stratified random sampling technique was employed to select 420 participants for the quantitative phase, while purposive sampling was used to select 30 key informants for the qualitative phase. Research instruments included a validated questionnaire (IOC = 0.89, Cronbach's alpha = 0.91) and semi-structured interview guidelines. Data were collected during October 2024 to January 2025. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis and triangulation. Results indicated that overall peaceful death preparation was at a high level (Mean = 3.78, SD = 0.62). Physical preparation (Mean = 3.85, SD = 0.58) was highest, followed by social preparation (Mean = 3.76, SD = 0.71) and psychological preparation (Mean = 3.73, SD = 0.69). Buddhist mindfulness practice, family support, and access to palliative care services were significant predictors of peaceful death preparation (p < 0.001). The developed holistic model, the Triadic Peaceful Death Preparation Model (TPDP), integrates Dhamma practice, social connectedness, and medical care. Findings suggest that integrating Buddhist psychological principles with contemporary palliative care can significantly enhance quality of dying among Thai elderly populations.
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