The Malaysian Family Well-Being Index 2016 was the second family well-being index developed by LPPKN, following the first index introduced in 2011. It was implemented to provide an updated measure of family well-being in Malaysia and to reflect new realities affecting families, including changes in family structures, communication patterns, digital technology use, community life and socio-economic conditions.
The 2016 index was introduced to strengthen the national evidence base on family well-being and to support the formulation of more targeted policies, programmes and interventions. Compared with the 2011 index, the 2016 study retained the same number of indicators but expanded the framework by introducing a new domain: Family and Communication Technology. This addition reflected the growing influence of digital communication on family interaction and child supervision.
The main purpose of the Malaysian Family Well-Being Index 2016 was to measure the level of family well-being among Malaysian families and to provide updated evidence for policy and programme planning. Specifically, the index aimed to assess family well-being across key dimensions such as family relationships, economy, health, safety, community involvement, religion and spirituality, housing and environment, and communication technology. The findings were intended to guide the development of initiatives that strengthen family resilience, improve family functioning and address emerging challenges faced by families in Malaysia.
Methodology
The study used a cross-sectional survey design. The sampling frame was based on the updated living quarters sample frame from the 2010 Malaysia Population and Housing Census. A two-stage stratified sampling design was applied, covering all states and both urban and rural strata.
A total of 8,254 living quarters were targeted, of which 3,878 living quarters were successfully interviewed. Respondents were Malaysian parents with children aged between 3 and 24 years, comprising 2,008 fathers and 1,870 mothers. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using an instrument consisting of 90 items, eight domains and 23 indicators. The index used a maximum score of 10, where higher scores indicate higher family well-being.
Key Scores
The overall Malaysian Family Well-Being Index 2016 recorded a score of 7.33 out of 10, placing family well-being at a moderate level.
Among the eight domains, Family, Role of Religion and Spiritual Practices recorded the highest score at 8.04, followed by Family Safety at 7.96, Family Relationship at 7.90, Family and Community Involvement at 7.84, Family Health at 7.18, Family Economy at 7.05, Family and Communication Technology at 6.38 and Housing and Environment at 6.24.
Outcomes and Significance
The Malaysian Family Well-Being Index 2016 provided an important update on the condition of families in Malaysia and strengthened the continuity of family well-being measurement after the 2011 baseline study. It showed that Malaysian families continued to demonstrate strong values in religion, spirituality, family safety and family relationships, while areas such as housing and environment, communication technology, and family economy required further attention. The introduction of the Family and Communication Technology domain was a significant advancement, as it recognised digital technology as an emerging factor influencing family interaction, parenting and child supervision. The findings also provided useful evidence for strengthening family-based policies, improving intervention programmes and guiding future research on family resilience and well-being.
Overall, the Malaysian Family Well-Being Index 2016 reinforced the importance of continuous monitoring of family well-being as part of Malaysia’s social development agenda. It served as a strategic tool for LPPKN and relevant stakeholders to better understand family needs, identify areas for improvement and design more responsive programmes for Malaysian families.
