Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A Multilevel Longitudinal Study of Individual, Household and Village Factors Associated with Happiness Among Adults in the Southernmost Provinces of Thailand

  • Published:
Applied Research in Quality of Life Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to use an ecological model to consider the association of individual, household and village level factors with the happiness or subjective well-being of working age Muslim adults living in the southernmost provinces of Thailand. A civil conflict has been ongoing in this area with a documented incidence of violence and an associated increase in migration. Data were drawn from two rounds of a probability sample of adult women and men living in 1102 Muslim households. Mixed models were used in the analysis. Positive individual factors related to happiness were secular education, strictness of religious practice, and health. Positive household factors included relative household wealth and family support. Positive village factors included the village migration level and community support. Violence was associated with reduced happiness, especially for women. However, the adult residents of the southernmost provinces maintain a positive sense of well being.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abas, M. A., Punpuing, S., Jirapramukpitak, T., Guest, P., Tangchonlatip, K., Leese, M., & Prince, M. (2009). Rural-urban migration and depression in ageing family members left behind. British Journal of Psychiatry, 195, 54–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abdel-Khalek, A. M. (2014). Religiosity and well being in a Muslim context. In C. Kim-Priet (Ed.), Religion and spirituality across cultures. Cross cultural advancements in positive psychology. (Vol. 9). Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allison, P. D. (2009). Fixed effects regression models. Quantitative applications in the social sciences (160). Sage.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Antman, F. M. (2013). The impact of migration on the family left behind. In A. F. Constant & K. F. Zimmerman (Eds.), International handbook on the economics of migration (pp. 293–308). Edward Elga Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Axinn, W., Ghimire, D. J., Williams, N., & Scott, K. M. (2013). Gender, traumatic events and mental health disorders in a rural Asian Setting. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 54, 444–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baita, S. (2005). Coping with childhood trauma and dissociation in Argentina. Journal of Trauma Practice, 4(1), 35–53.

  • Ban-Klimek, A., Karatazias, T., Elliott, L., & Maclean, R. (2015). The determinants of well-being among international economic immigrants: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Applied Research on the Quality of Life, 10, 161–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohra-Mishra, P., & Massey, D. (2011). Individual decisions to migrate during civil conflict. Demography, 48, 401–424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borraz, F., Pozo, S., & Rossi, M. (2008). And what about the family back home? International migration and happiness. Proceedings of the German economic development economics conference, Zurich, No. 2, Verein fur Socialpolitik, Ausschuss fur Entwicklungslander.

  • Breslau, N. (2002). Epidemiologic studies if trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder and other psychiatric disorders. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 47, 923–929.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bunting, B. P., Ferry, F. R., Murphy, S. D., O’Neil, S. M., & Bolton, D. (2011). Trauma associated with civil conflict and posttraumatic stress disorder: Evidence from the Northern Ireland Study of Health and Stress. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 26, 134–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Camfield, L., Guillen-Royo, M., & Velazco, J. (2010). Do needs satisfaction matter for psychological and subjective well being in developing countries: A mixed methods illustration from Bangladesh and Thailand. Journal of Happiness Studies, 11, 497–516.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campate, F., & Yanagizawa-Drott, D. (2015). Does religion affect economic growth and happiness? The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 130, 615–658.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chalk, P. (2008). The Malay Muslim insurgency in Southeast Asia: Understanding the conflicts evolving dilemma. Rand Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collier, P. (1999). On the economic consequences of civil war. Oxford Economic Papers, 51, 168–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Croissant, A. (2005). Unrest in southern Thailand: Contours, causes, and consequences since 2001. Contemporary Southeast Asia, 27, 21–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Lucas, R. E., & Smith, H. L. (1999). Subjective well-being: Three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 276–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Filmer, D., & Pritchett, L. H. (2001). Estimating wealth effects without expenditure data—Or tears: An application to the educational enrollment in states of India. Demography, 38, 115–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forbes, A. D. W. ed. (1988–1989). The Muslims of Thailand. Gaya (Bihar). Centre for Southeast Asian Studies.

  • Ford, K., Jampaklay, A., & Chamratrithirong, A. (2017). Mental health in a conflict setting: Migration, economic stress and religiosity in the three southernmost provinces of Thailand. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 63, 91–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, K., Jampaklay, A., & Chamratrithirong, A. (2019). Long term civil conflict, migration and the mental health of adults left behind in Thailand: A longitudinal study. International Journal of Public Health, 64, 1193–1201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frey, B. (2004). Dealing with terrorism: Stick or carrot? Edward Elgar Publishing Company Limited.

  • Frey, B. B. (2019). Happiness and religion. In Economic of happiness (pp. 59–62). Springer.

  • Frey, B. S. (2011). Peace, war and happiness: Bruder Klaus as wellbeing facilitator. International Journal of Well Being, 1, 226–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frey, B. S., Luechinger, S., & Stutzer, A. (2007). Calculating tragedy: Assessing the costs of terrorism. Journal of Economic Surveys, 21, 1–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • George, L. K. (2010). Still happy over all these years: Research frontiers on subjective well-being in later life. Journal of Gerontology and Social Science, 65B, 331–339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, R. S. (2012). Happiness in Thailand. In H. Selin & G. Davey (Eds.), Happiness across cultures: Science across cultures: The history of non-western science. (Vol. 6). Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, R. S., Kramanon, R., & Thapsuwan, S. (2008). The determinants of happiness among the Thai people: Some evidence from Chai Nat and Kanchanaburi. Thammasat Economic Journal, 26, 72–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, R. S., Tantipiwatanaskul, P., & Suwannoppakao, R. (2010). Happiness among Thai people: Living a virtuous life, spirituality, and self esteem. Journal of Mental Health of Thailand, 18, 71–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guillen Royo, M., & Velazco, J. (2006). Exploring the relationship between happiness, objective and subjective well being: Evidence from rural Thailand. Wellbeing in developing countries. WeD Working paper 16. University of Bath: Economic and Social Research Council.

  • Herman, A. A., Williams, D., Stein, D. J., Seedat, S., Heeringa, S. G., & Moomal, H. (2008). The South African Health and Stress Study (SASH): A foundation for improving mental health care in South Africa. In R. C. Kessler & T. B. Ustin (Eds.), The WHO world mental health surveys: Global perspectives on the epidemiology of mental disorders (pp. 238–264). Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jampaklay, A., Ford, K., & Chamatrithirong, A. (2017). How does unrest affect migration? Evidence for the three southernmost provinces of Thailand. Demographic Research, 37, 25–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jampaklay, A., Ford, K., & Chamratrithirong, A. (2020). Migration and unrest in the deep South Thailand: A multi-level analysis of a longitudinal study. Demography. Online First.

  • Jampaklay, A., & Vapattawong, P. (2013). The subjective well-being of children in transnational and non-migrant households: Evidence from Thailand. Asian and Pacific Migration Review, 22, 377–4000.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jitpiromsri, S. (2014). An inconvenient truth about the deep south violent conflict: A decade of chaotic, constrained realities and uncertain resolution. Deep South Watch.

  • Joarder, M. A. M., Harris, M., & Dockery, A. M. (2016). Remittances and happiness of migrants in their home households. Evidence from matched samples. The Journal of Development Studies, 53, 422–443.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, R. C. (2013). Migration and family happiness in Bolivia: Does social disintegration negate economic well-being? International Migration, 52, 177–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jongudomkarn, D., & Camfield, L. (2006). Exploring the quality of life of people in northeastern and southern Thailand. Social Indicators Research, 78, 489–529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindstrom, D. P., & Ramirez, A. L. (2010). Pioneers and followers: Migrant selectivity and the development of US migration streams in Latin America. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 630, 53–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, L. (1999). Personal or environmental causes of happiness: A Longitudinal analysis. The Journal of Social Psychology, 139, 79–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, Y. (2008). A test of the healthy migrant hypothesis: A longitudinal analysis of health selectivity in Indonesia. Social Science and Medicine, 67, 1331–1339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, Y. (2012). Household migration, social support, and psychological health: The perspective from migrant sending areas. Social Science and Medicine, 74, 135–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maximillian, M. (2018). The slow burning insurgency in Thailand’s deep south. The Diplomat. Retrieved February 6, 2018, from https://www.thediplomat.com/2018/02/theslowburninginsurgencyinThailand’sdeepsouth/. Accessed 8 Feb 2018.

  • Monkol, A., Vongpiromsan, Y., Tangseree, T., Watchanee, H., & Piaiwar, P. (2007). The development and testing of the Thai Mental Health Indicator. Version 2007. Journal of the Psychiatric Association of Thailand, 54, 299–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muldoon, O. T., Trew, K., & McWhirter, L. (1998). Children’s perception of negative events in Northern Ireland: A ten year study. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 7, 36–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, M., & Lloyd, K. (2007). Civil conflict in Northern Ireland and the prevalence of psychiatric disturbance across the UK: A population study using the British Household Panel Survey and the Northern Ireland Panel Survey. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 53, 397–407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nobles, J., Rubalcava, L., & Teruel, G. (2015). After spouses depart: Emotional wellbeing among nonmigrant Mexican mothers. Social Science and Medicine, 132, 236–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Obrizon, M. (2019). Violent conflict and happiness: Evidence from the 2016 ‘Life in Transition’ III survey. Economics Bulletin, 39, 192–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parks, T., Coletta, N., & Oppenheim, B. (2013). The contested corners of Asia: Subnational conflict and international development assistance. Asia Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pholphirul, P. (2015). Happiness from giving: Quantitative investigation of Thai Buddhists. Applied Research on the Quality of Life, 10, 703–720.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richard, L., Gauvin, L., & Raine, K. (2011). Ecological models revisited: Their uses and evolution over two decades. Annual Review of Public Health, 32, 307–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rukumnuaykit, P. (2014). Urbanization, poverty and subjective well-being: Empirical evidence from Thailand. Urban Policy and Research, 33, 98–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rukumnuaykit, P., & Pholphirul, P. (2016). Happiness from social capital: An investigation from microdata in rural Thailand. Community Development, 47, 562–573.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salgado de Snyder, V. N. (1993). Family life across the border: Mexican wives left behind. Hispanic Journal of the Behavioral Sciences, 15, 3910401.

    Google Scholar 

  • Senasu, K., & Singhapakdi, A. (2017). Determinants of happiness in Thailand: The moderating role of happiness. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 27, 270–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shin, S., & Jung, K. (2020). Mediating role of community participation between physical environments, social relationships, social conflicts, and quality of life: Evidence from South Korea. Applied Research Quality Life, 15, 1433–1450. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-019-09747-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takuda, Y., Fujui, S., & Inoguchi, T. (2017). Individual and county level effects of social trust on happiness: The Asia Barometer Survey. In T. Inogochi & Y. Tokada (Eds.), Trust with Asian characteristics trust (interdisciplinary perspectives) (Vol. 1, pp. 123–139). Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • UCDB. (2006). Upsala conflict data base. Retrieved from www.pcr.uu.se/database/index.php.

  • UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office. (2014). Thailand case study in education, conflict and social cohesion. UNICEF.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welch, H. (2008). The social costs of civil conflict: Evidence from surveys of happiness. Kyklos, 61, 320–340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winzer, L., & Gray, R. S. (2019). The role of Buddhist practices in happiness and health in Thailand: A structural equation model. Journal of Happiness Studies, 20, 411–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wold, B., & Mittelmark, M. B. (2018). Health promotion research over three decades: The social-ecological model and challenges in implementation of interventions. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 46(Suppl 20), 20–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wun’gaeo, S., Jumnianpol, S., Nuangjamnong, N., Srisupan, P., & Chimmamee, M. (2017). Social well being in Thailand 2016: Survey report. The Shensu Social Well Being Review, 4, 75–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yiengprugsawan, V., Somboonsock, B., Seubsman, S., & Sleigh, A. C. (2012). Happiness, mental health, and socio-demographic association among a national cohort of Thai adults. Journal of Happiness Studies, 13, 1019–1029.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

Funding was provided by Mahidol University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

    Kathleen Ford, Aree Jampaklay & Aphichat Chamratrithirong

  2. School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1925 Lorraine Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, USA

    Kathleen Ford

Authors
  1. Kathleen Ford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Aree Jampaklay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Aphichat Chamratrithirong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kathleen Ford.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ford, K., Jampaklay, A. & Chamratrithirong, A. A Multilevel Longitudinal Study of Individual, Household and Village Factors Associated with Happiness Among Adults in the Southernmost Provinces of Thailand. Applied Research Quality Life 17, 1459–1476 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-021-09973-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-021-09973-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation