Mental health and psychological self-care of rubber farmers in phatthalung province

Abstract

Program for improve appropriateObjective : The purposes of this descriptive study were to determine the level of mental health and psychological self-care and to examine the relationship between psychological self-care and mental health of rubber farmers in Phatthalung Province.

Materials and methods : The samples comprised of 88 rubber farmers in Phatthalung Province, selected by multstage random sampling. Data were collected by three sets of questionares, including the personal data, Thai Mental Health Indicators, and psychological self - care inventory. Data were analyzed by using frequency, percentage, mean standard deviation and Pearson,s product moment correlation coefficient.

Results : The results revealed that 48.9% of mental health of rubber farmers in Phatthalung Province had the level of mental health at the same level as general people. The mean scores of overall of psychological self-care, and mean scores of aspects of psychological self-care of rubber farmers in Phatthalung Province including the development of
self-awareness, problem-solving strategies, the development of social support system, and the physical self-care were at the medium level, whereas those of effectiveness communication and time management were at the high level; mental health was positively correlated with overall psychological self-care and with almost all aspects of
psychological self-care. There was no significant correlated between mental health and physical self-care.

Conclusion : The findings from this study can be used as baseline data for health personnel to promote mental health and psychological self-care of rubber farmers in Phatthalung Province.