The Effects of Rehabilitation Activities on the Quality of Life of Formerly Detained Individuals under the Internal Security Act in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces
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Abstract
This research aimed to examine the nature and effects of rehabilitation activities designed to improve the quality of life of individuals formerly detained under special laws in Thailand’s southern border provinces. An experimental intervention was implemented over a five-week period with 21 participants who were former detainees. The research instruments included focus group discussion guides, semi-structured interview forms, and the Thai Happiness Inventory. The rehabilitation program consisted of two key dimensions: enhancing psychological resilience, and fostering social learning for community coexistence and sustainable livelihood development. These dimensions were operationalized through two main components—activities aimed at strengthening mental well-being and activities focused on reshaping attitudes toward communal living and income generation for self-reliance. The results showed that participants developed better interpersonal relationships with peers and facilitators, gained more positive perspectives toward life, and improved their problem-solving abilities. They also expressed constructive attitudes toward income generation, despite being aware of their limitations in knowledge and capital. A repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that participants’ happiness levels increased steadily and significantly, rising from an initial score comparable to the general population (M=44.57) to a higher level (M=47.19). These findings highlight the effectiveness of the rehabilitation activities in promoting the sustainable reintegration of former detainees into society.
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References
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