Effects of a Behavior Modification Intervention on Consumption Behavior among Buddhist Novices at Wittayalai Song Phutthachinnarat Demonstration School, Phitsanulok

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of an intervention for behavioral modification on consumption behavior among Buddhist novices aged 16-18 years. They were studying at the senior high school level at  Wittayalai Song Phutthachinnarat Demonstration School, Phitsanulok. Sixty-six participants were voluntarily enrolled in the study and randomly allocated into the intervention and control groups, with 33 participants in each group. The intervention group underwent a behavioral modification program focused on consumption behavior in novice Buddhist monks for one week. The program aimed to educate participants about beverage consumption literacy to encourage age-appropriate beverage consumption behavior. The program included small-group lectures, label reading demonstrations, group discussions, game-playing, persuasive speeches, and emotional stimulation techniques. Data were collected using questionnaire interviews and a beverage consumption record form. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The hypothesis was determined using paired sample T-tests and independent T-tests.

The results showed that the intervention group had significantly greater knowledge, self-awareness, positive expectations, and age-appropriate beverage consumption behaviors compared with both baseline and the control group (p<0.05). The behavioral modification program effectively improved beverage consumption behaviors among Buddhist novices. This study suggests for future study should consider evaluating blood sugar levels and body weight. A limitation of this study is that participants were only enrolled from Wittayalai Song Phutthachinnarat Demonstration School, Phitsanulok, as it is the only school for Buddhist novices in the educational region.