Abstract:
For research and development, this research program used a mixed methods approach. The aims of this research program were 1) to develop the art of living and an occupational therapy for depressed adolescents in Chiang Mai, 2) to explore the construction of social space and the presentation of self-ethical identity on social media among Thai youth, and 3) to develop a model for teaching the Buddhist morality and encouraging inmates in Thailand. A research area of this research program was based in Chiang Mai. The participants were divided into 3 groups. They consisted of 15 depressed youth who studied a bachelor degree in higher education institutions in Chiang Mai, 62 (taking part in questionnaires and interviews) and 64 youth (participating in a training) who studied a bachelor degree at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, and 3) 100 Buddhist guest speakers, both monks and laypeople, who had roles and responsibilities in teaching the Buddhist morality in Thai provincial prisons. All of them applied for participating in this research and met the inclusion criteria. A voluntary sampling was applied in this study. The research instruments were questionnaires and interviews. The data from the quantitative research was evaluated using descriptive statistics such as the mean and standard deviation. In addition, in the qualitative research, interviews and focus groups were used to assess the data and draw up a descriptive section. The findings were as followed:
1. One of the factors that causes depression in adolescents is the fact that they lived away from their families and close friends. It was a period that they had to adjust themselves physically and socially, and interreacted with the opposite sex. Depressed adolescents who lived far away from home should be properly prevented before symptoms arose. For adolescents, there should be activities that lowered risk factors, boosted protective factors by altering mental and behavioral aspects, and motivated them through group activities or complement interpersonal interactions. Occupational therapy for depressed youth living away from home was based on five principles: 1) Emphasizing the significance of inner experience 2) co-learning with compassion 3) mutual respect 4) establishing a sense of security and support and 5) learning to change. In addition, there were six processes of occupational therapy. There were 1) clarification of processes, 2) opening of learning areas, 3) self-survey and life goals, 4) life planning, 5) support for the implementation of the life plan, and 6) evaluation of the learning outcomes. The following were guidelines for empowering depressed adolescents who lived away from home in Chiang Mai Province: 1) a desire to grow, 2) time set aside to participate in the process, 3) a variety of simple learning methods 4) a welcoming learning environment 5) attentive and understanding event organizers 6) Friendships that encourage one another, and 7) learning from experienced people.
2. Majority of the participants posted or commented about the social injustice or their own stories but most of them never posted or commented about race, culture, gender, sexual orientation, religion, social class and their own needs; most of the participants had good knowledge, understood, and behaved appropriately. It revealed that their self-ethical identity on social media were 1) citing sources of data or pictures before using, forwarding or sharing them, 2) asking for permission before taking the pictures or recording any audio, 3) checking data or pictures before using, forwarding or sharing them, 4) not forwarding or sharing of other peoples pictures without asking permission, 5) not translating social media messages or stories and then post, forward or share them without asking permission, 6) not posting, forwarding nor sharing data or pictures which are relevant to an aggression or a violence, 7) not posting, forwarding or sharing data or pictures which are relevant to other peoples issues, and 8) not posting messages or pictures for criticizing someone who has broken the law or morality. Additionally, a few of the participants revealed that they did not ask for permission before using, forwarding or sharing data or pictures. Moreover, the mean scores of an ethical skill of social media usage of participants before and after attending the operational training program were significantly different at .01 level. The mean scores of an ethical skill of social media usage of participants after participating in the operational training program had increased by 14.85 percent. This research has provided a deeper insight into social media usage among Thai youth. The findings of this research will be useful as guidelines for teaching, learning and counseling to promote Thai youth to show their self-ethical identity creatively and appropriately. Particularly, the findings can be applied to develop an ethical skill of social media usage of Thai youth who live in different regions of Thailand.
3. The results of the synthesis of the development process of the Dhamma speakers model in Thailand should integrate the process of mindfulness through various activities or a good life example that can inspire others. These activities can take the form of short-term or long-term training courses with a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) and objectives. It should include standard qualifications for Dhamma speakers, as well as follow up, evaluation, and create a powerful learning process, among other things. A training course for Dhamma speakers in Thailand to teach Buddhist Dhamma and motivate the innates could be classified into two categories: 1) Buddhist Dhamma that was important for life, along with doctrines from Somdej Phra Phutthakosachan's "Constitution for Living" (P.A. Payutto) 2) Inspiration was a study of 20 role models who overcame numerous challenges to achieve life success. These were given in a variety of ways, including self-study materials. The Kalyanamitra model was a method for training dhamma speakers to teach Buddhist Dhamma and inspire inmates in Thailand. A four-step development process underpinned the Kalyanamitra model were: 1) spiritual growth 2) mental growth 3) wisdom development 4) peace development. The following are twelve guidelines to inspire for inmates: 1) gain knowledge, 2) get analytical insight, 3) be a good leader for prayer, 4) be willing to volunteer, 5) promote ideas, 6) assist in problem-solving, 7) Make a commitment to self-improvement, 8) Live his life according to Magga, 9) Vipassana, 10) Ingenious thinking process, 11) follow the Right Mindfulness, and 12) renounce the wrong view. This model's evaluation was adequate and feasible at a high level, as well as practical.