Background Understanding the influence of healthy lifestyle behaviors on population-level life satisfaction is few known in the aging population, especially in low- and middle-income countries in Asia. The objective of our study was to analyse the association of lifestyle behaviors with life satisfaction in a nationally-representative sample of older persons in Thailand. Methods The sample was obtained from a baseline phase of a nationally-representative, longitudinal survey of the Thai population. The study employed a multistage sampling technique to recruit study participants age 60 years or older from the five geographic regions of Thailand. In this study, 1460 adults age 60 years or older from 3670 households successfully completed face-to-face interviews by trained staff with a structured questionnaire. Information on self-reported life satisfaction, lifestyle behaviors, and sociodemographic characteristics were collected via survey questionnaire. Life satisfaction was assessed using the Scale with Life Satisfaction (SWLS) [1 to 7] response. Binary logistic regression analysis was used in investigating the association between lifestyle behaviors and life satisfaction. Results The median age of the participants was 68.1 (60–93 years). The overall mean life satisfaction score was 24.2 ± 5.6. Regular physical activity (at least 30 min per day) and sufficient fruit and vegetable (FV) intake (at least 400 g per day) were significantly associated with older people’s life satisfaction (p ≤ 0.001 and p ≤ 0.10, respectively) after controlling all sociodemographic variables. Participants who had regular physical activity were 1.7 times as likely to be satisfied as those with less physical activity (95% CI 1.284–2.151). Participants with sufficient daily FV intake were 1.3 times as likely to be satisfied with life as those with insufficient daily FV (95% CI 0.994–1.723). Life satisfaction score also differed significantly by sociodemographic characteristics (sex, age, marital status, educational attainment) and presence of chronic disease. Conclusions To improve the life satisfaction of older persons, taking into account sociodemographic characteristics of the population and absence of chronic disease, the need for promotion of healthy lifestyle behaviors, especially regular physical activity and sufficient FV intake, must be recommended.

AimTo understand the experiences of caregivers with older people living in Thailand, particularly as related to quality of life and stress management.MethodIn‐depth interviews with 17 family caregivers were conducted and then data were thematically analysed.ResultsCarers experience not only negative impacts but also positive impacts from caregiving. Negative impacts include emotional stress, financial struggles and worry due to lack of knowledge. Positive impacts include affection from care recipients, good relationships with caregivers before needing care themselves and encouragement from the wider community. Opportunities to show gratitude, build karma (from good deeds) and ideas shaped largely by Buddhist teachings result in positive experiences. Negotiating between the extremes of bliss and suffering and understanding suffering as a part of life may help carers manage their stress.ConclusionsTemples and centres for older people could be engaged to develop caregiving programs.

PurposeThe sociodemographic determinants of insufficient fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in the general population in Thailand remain understudied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between sociodemographic characteristics and insufficient FV consumption in Thailand.Design/methodology/approachThis nationally representative survey employed a cross-sectional multi-stage sampling design. A total of 6,991 individuals aged 15 years or older participated in the study. Information on participants' FV consumption and sociodemographic characteristics were collected via questionnaire. The data were analyzed using binary logistic regression.FindingsThe overall prevalence of insufficient FV consumption in the study sample was 65.6%. Age of the participants, sex, marital status, place of residence, occupation, income and education were found to be significantly associated with insufficient FV consumption among this sample of the Thai population.Originality/valueFindings suggest the need for promotion of FV consumption and intervention policies aimed at increasing FV intake by taking into account sociodemographic characteristics of the population.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between home gardening and sufficient fruit and vegetable (FV) intake among non-farmers in Thailand, and examine the influence of socio-demographic characteristics and other associated factors on home gardening among non-farmers in urban areas. Data were collected by a cross-sectional survey of a sample of Thai non-farmers (N = 5634). Information on self-reported home gardening, FV intake, health-related behaviors, and socio-demographic characteristics was collected via questionnaire. The findings show that home gardening is significantly associated with sufficient FV intake among non-farmers (p < 0.001). Within the non-farmer group who lived in urban areas, 9% gardened FV at home. Home gardening was significantly associated with socio-demographic characteristics (sex, age and occupation), physical activity, fear of pesticide contamination of FV, and FV safety awareness among the urban non-farmers. Respondents who were female, in the middle-adulthood group, practiced regular physical activity, feared pesticide contamination, and had high awareness of FV safety had the highest probability of gardening at home (p < 0.05, p < 0.001, p < 0.01, p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). The Thai government should pay more attention to factors that influence urban home gardening by providing support, building local capacity, and implementing effective interventions with the urban population.

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