Factors related to an implementation of sangha activities among abbots during COVID-19 outbreak situations

Abstract

This descriptive research was aimed to study the implementation of sangha activity among abbots and the factors related to implementation of sangha activity among abbots during COVID-19 outbreak situations. The samples were 103 abbots residing in temples at the area of the sangha administration, mueang district, Phayao province. The research tools consisted questionnaires collecting data about demographic data, feeling about COVID-19 outbreak, budget assistance, basic knowledge of self-protection from COVID-19, level of access to the information about COVID-19, and implementation of six aspect of sangha activity among abbots. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient, and Chi-square test. The results revealed that 64.0 percent of the abbots were stressed, anxious and scared of COVID-19 outbreak situations. In terms of budget assistance, 59.22% percent of temples did not receive budget. Most of them (75.73%) had basic knowledge of self-protection from COVID-19 at high level (=8.37, S.D. = 1.24), and 66.02% percent accessed to the information regarding COVID-19 at moderate level. In regard to the implementation for sangha activities, the overall score was at the moderate level (=3.06, SD.=0.69), and each aspect had scores at a moderate level. The highest average score was the administrative aspect (=3.27, SD.=0.69), and the lowest average score was welfare educational aspect ( =2.72, SD.=0.99). Factors related to implementation of sangha activities among abbots during COVID-19 outbreak situations included basic knowledge of self-protection from COVID-19 (r=.21, p<.05), level of access to the information about COVID - 19 (r=.56, p<.01), and budget assistance (c²=11.454, p<.01). Findings suggest that those involved should consider policy regarding budget support for temples, promote self-protect knowledge regarding COVID-19, and increase level of access to the information about COVID-19 among abbots.