FACTORS EFFECTING FOOD CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOR OF THE ELDERLY BUDDHIST MONKS LIVING IN SISAKET PROVINCE

Abstract

This cross-sectional descriptive study consisted of 2 objectives: 1) to study knowledge, attitude and behavior on food consumption of the elderly Buddhist monks living in Sisaket province and 2) to study factors effecting food consumption behavior of the elderly Buddhist monks living in Sisaket province. The samples were 523 elderly Buddhist monks aged 50 years old or above selected by using accidental sampling. The instrument was questionnaire which was developed by the researcher. Data analysis was analyzed by using percentage, means, standard deviation and multiple regressions analysis.

          The findings were:

1. The result of knowledge, attitude and behavior on food consumption of the elderly Buddhist monks living in Sisaket province revealed that the samples had knowledge on food consumption at moderate level ( = 9.82, S.D. = 1.91), attitude on food consumption at moderate level ( = 39.78, S.D. = 4.46) and behavior on food consumption at moderate level ( = 44.26, S.D. = 4.89).


2. The two factors effecting food consumption behavior of the elderly Buddhist monks living in Sisaket province with the significance level at .05 were attitude and having exceeding 6-month health problems. Both two factors were explained the behaviors at 26.3% and had positive relations on the samples’ food consumption behavior of elderly Buddhist monks living in Sisaket province.

          The recommendations were the attitude modification or right knowledge enhancement projects should be provided for the elderly Buddhist monks living in Sisaket province according to the findings of moderate level in attitude on food consumption and the in depth consideration tends to poor level. Moreover, the positive attitude factor on food consumption is statistically significant on behavior on food consumption of the elderly Buddhist monks living in Sisaket province.