FACTORS PREDICTING HEALTH - PROMOTING BEHAVIOR AMONG BUDDHIST MONKS IN PHITSANULOK PROVINCE

Abstract

This predictive correlation research aimed to study health-promoting behavior and to examine factors predicting health-promoting behavior among Buddhist monks. The samples of 300 Buddhist monks in Phitsanulok province were selected by multi-stage sampling. The data was collected by questionnaires and analyzed by using descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The result showed that Buddhist monks have got good health-promoting  behavior and there were showed five factors predicting to health-promoting  behavior among Buddhist monks in Phitsanulok province which are consisted of 1) perceived self- efficacy (p-value < 0.001) ( Beta = 0.339) 2) perceived barriers to action (p-value < 0.001) (Beta = 0.305) 3) perceived benefits (p-value = 0.002) (Beta = 0.155) 4) dhamma in the second grade education     (p-value = 0.020) (Beta = 0.107) and 5) elementary education (p-value = 0.037) (Beta = 0.097). The combination of the factors predicting health-promoting behavior among Buddhist monks in Phitsanulok province was 38.80% statistically significant 0.05 level. The research suggested that promoting monks' health considered various factors from this study such as perceived self- efficacy, perceived barriers to action, perceived usefulness of action in health promotion program.