Buddhist Psychological Factors Related to the Mental Health Among Thai Country Singers

Abstract

This research aimed to 1) study the levels of mental health and Buddhist psychological factors, 2) study the relationship between Buddhist psychological factors and the mental health 3) propose guidelines for enhancing Buddhist psychological factors to promote the mental health of Thai country singers. Using a mixed methods approach, involving 123 singers and 9 key informants through questionnaires and interviews. Resulted revealed that 1) overall mental health was at a level equal to general population (fair) 2) overall, Buddhist psychological factors in relation to the Four Brahmavihāras were at a high level 3) there was a statistically significant positive correlation between these factors and mental health and 4) Guidelines include Loving-kindness; to cultivate kindness toward oneself, others, and all beings; Compassion; to understand personal suffering, help within limits, and practice compassion meditation; Sympathetic joy; to rejoice in others’ success and promote encouragement and Equanimity; to accept career changes and let go of emotional reactions. 3. The proposed guidelines for Composing Thai Country Songs to enhance resilience of audience based on Buddhist psychology are as follows; emphasizing relevance to the audience, linking Buddhist values with contemporary music, using motivational content, easy-to-understand language, using positive mood melody, embedding moral teachings, and preserving cultural identity.