The Process of Creating Innovation of Dancing Art Therapy for Improving Quality of Life in Terms of Happiness of Elders in Surin via Teaching Local Dancing Art Ruam An Ray DOI:

Abstract

This research aimed to (1) examine the process of creating the dancing art therapy innovation for enhancing the well-being-related quality of life of the elderly in Surin Province through the teaching of the local folk dance Ruam An Ray, and (2) investigate the elderly’s opinions toward the use of this dancing art therapy innovation in promoting well-being-related quality of life. A mixed-methods design was employed, integrating qualitative research and a quasi-experimental approach. In the qualitative phase, data were collected from 20 key informants, consisting of 10 community leaders, local sages, folk artists, cultural experts, and dance teachers, and 10 practitioners, using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis to inform the design of the dancing art therapy innovation. In the quasi-experimental phase, 45 elderly participants aged 60 years and above were purposively recruited based on voluntary participation and physical and psychological readiness. Research instruments included (1) a questionnaire on perceptions of the innovation development process, (2) a questionnaire on perceived outcomes of the innovation use, and (3) the 15-item Thai Happiness Index (THI-15). Data were collected before and after program participation. The findings indicated that the process of creating the dancing art therapy innovation consisted of seven stages : (1) documenting the background and performance components, (2) synthesizing instructional content through the Surin Local Performance course, (3) developing an instructional e-book manual, (4) expert validation, (5) designing digital learning media based on the ADDIE model, (6) producing the finalized e-book manual, and (7) producing a dissemination video. The results further indicated that post-program well-being scores were significantly higher than pre-program scores (p < .01). In addition, the elderly reported the highest level of positive opinions toward the dancing art therapy innovation, particularly regarding the appropriateness of the activity format, pride in local cultural heritage, and the enhancement of social relationships. These findings suggest that the Ruam An Ray dancing art therapy innovation has strong potential and suitability for sustainably promoting the well-being-related quality of life of the elderly in Surin Province.