Family Well-Being Index 2011

The Malaysian Family Well-Being Index 2011 was the first national initiative undertaken by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development through LPPKN to measure the well-being of families in Malaysia. The study was introduced in response to rapid social and economic development, which had brought new pressures and challenges to the family institution, including changing family structures, work-family balance issues, delayed marriage, child care needs, social problems and the growing complexity of modern family life. As the family is the basic social unit that nurtures human capital and supports national development, there was a need for a scientific and measurable framework to assess the condition of families in Malaysia. Prior to this study, there was no specific index that could comprehensively describe family well-being in the Malaysian context or monitor changes in family well-being over time. The index was therefore developed as a benchmark to support policy formulation, programme planning, research development and family intervention strategies.

Methodology

The development of the Malaysian Family Well-Being Index was based on a systematic process involving literature review, focus group discussions and a pilot study. The literature review examined previous studies and reports from 1990 onwards to identify suitable domains and indicators. These were then refined through formal and informal focus group discussions involving academics, government agencies, non-governmental organisations and selected members of the public.

A pilot study involving 30 households was conducted to test and improve the questionnaire. The final index framework comprised seven domains and 24 indicators, focusing mainly on subjective well-being, where respondents assessed aspects of satisfaction, happiness and family life.

The main survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews involving 2,808 households and 5,616 respondents. This included 1,484 male respondents, 1,324 female respondents and 2,808 adolescent respondents aged 13 to 24 years. Household selection was supported by the Department of Statistics Malaysia using stratified random sampling.

Domains and Measurement

The Malaysian Family Well-Being Index 2011 measured seven key domains:

– Family Relationship

– Family Economy

– Family Health

– Family Safety

– Family and Community

– Family and Religion / Spirituality

– Housing and Environment

The index used a maximum score of 10. A higher score indicates a higher level of family well-being. The overall index score was calculated based on the average scores across the seven domains.

Key Scores

The Malaysian Family Well-Being Index for parents recorded a score of 7.55 out of 10. Among the seven domains, Family and Religion / Spirituality recorded the highest score at 8.25, followed by Family and Community at 7.83, Family Relationship at 7.82, Family Safety at 7.39, Family Health at 7.38, Housing and Environment at 7.28, and Family Economy at 6.90.

For adolescent respondents aged 13 to 24 years, the Family Well-Being Index recorded a score of 7.70 out of 10. The highest score was also recorded in the Family and Religion / Spirituality domain at 8.18, followed by Family Relationship, Family Safety, Family Economy, Family and Community, Family Health, and Housing and Environment.

Outcomes and Significance

The Malaysian Family Well-Being Index 2011 provided the first structured benchmark for understanding family well-being in Malaysia. It offered evidence on the strengths and vulnerabilities of Malaysian families and helped identify areas requiring policy attention, particularly family economy, housing and environment, health, resilience and work-family balance. The findings supported the need to expand family resilience programmes, strengthen parenting and household management skills, improve access to financial counselling and support services, enhance community-based programmes, and continue the measurement of family well-being on a regular basis. The study also recommended that the index be conducted continuously, with wider coverage, to monitor family well-being over time and guide the development of new interventions and the expansion of existing family programmes.

The Malaysian Family Well-Being Index 2011 became an important foundation for evidence-based family policy and programme development in Malaysia. It positioned family well-being as a measurable national development concern and provided LPPKN with a strategic tool to monitor, understand and strengthen the family institution in line with Malaysia’s social development agenda.