Enhancing Elderly Happiness and Well-Being Through Mandala Meditation Art

Thailand’s rapid transition into a super-aged society presents critical challenges for promoting health and well-being among older adults. This study examines how a mandala art-based meditation program can function as a culturally grounded health promotion strategy to enhance happiness and mental wellness in elderly populations. A sequential mixed-method design was employed. In Phase 1, in-depth interviews with nine participants explored elderly perceptions of happiness, which were categorized into four domains aligned with Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH) framework: physical, cognitive, emotional, and social well-being. Phase 2 involved thirty participants aged 60 and above, who joined an eleven-month intervention of forty-four weekly mandala meditation art  sessions, assessed through a pre–post Buddhist Happiness Scale. Phase 3 reflective discussions provided qualitative insights into lived experiences. Results revealed significant improvements across all domains, particularly emotional well-being, with participants reporting greater mindfulness, emotional balance, and social connectedness. These findings suggest that mandala-based meditation, grounded in Buddhist principles, may serve as an effective, low-cost, and culturally relevant approach to promoting elderly well-being in aging societies.