Study on Childcare & Parenting Styles Among Working Parents in Peninsular Malaysia 1998

The Study on Childcare and Parenting Styles among working Parents in Malaysia is one of the three research issues on the family that has been identified by the Ministry of National Unity and Social Development under the “Pelan Induk Tindakan Sosial (PINTAS)”. This survey is timely in view of the many challenges faced by Malaysian families who have been affected directly or indirectly by modernisation, urbanisation and industrialisation as a result of socio-economic development.

Female labour force participation has increased from 37 per cent in 1970 to 42 per cent in 1991 and is expected to reach 52 per cent by year 2000. The increase in dual income families has implications on the family in terms of parenting and child care. Modernisation and urbanisation have also brought about changes in the family structure and erosions in the traditional family support systems. The result is that working parents have to cope with providing optimum care and parenting for their children in an environment of changing family values, traditions and support systems.

This study hence attempts to throw some light on current social issues like childcare and parenting encountered by families today and to provide indicators on these issues for the monitor¬ing and evaluation of the National Plan of Action on Children. Four regions in Peninsular Malaysia and one each in Sabah and Sarawak were covered in this study. This report gives some preliminary findings from the study for Peninsular Malaysia only. The findings for Sabah and Sarawak will be presented in a separate report at a later date.