Family Well-Being Index 2019

The Malaysian Family Well-Being Index 2019 was the third series of the national family well-being measurement conducted by LPPKN, following the first index in 2011 and the second series in 2016. It was introduced to continue monitoring the level of family well-being in Malaysia and to ensure that the index remains relevant to changing family realities, including family relationships, economic pressures, health, safety, community involvement, spirituality, housing conditions and digital communication. The 2019 study also supported national development priorities under the Eleventh Malaysia Plan, which targeted the Family Well-Being Index to reach 8.0 out of 10. Its findings serve as an important reference for policymakers, planners and programme implementers in designing family-based policies, services and social intervention programmes.

Methodology

The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design and used two-stage stratified sampling covering state, urban and rural strata. The sample selection was supported by the Department of Statistics Malaysia to ensure national representation.

Respondents consisted of Malaysian mothers or fathers with children aged between 3 and 24 years. A total of 5,005 respondents were successfully interviewed, comprising 44.4% fathers and 55.6% mothers. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI), with each interview taking approximately 30 to 45 minutes.

The FWBI 2019 instrument contained 121 items, covering eight domains and 22 family well-being indicators. Reliability testing showed good Cronbach’s Alpha values, ranging from 0.71 to 0.94.

Key Scores

The Malaysian Family Well-Being Index 2019 recorded an overall score of 7.72 out of 10, placing family well-being at a moderate level. However, the score showed an improvement of 0.39 points compared with FWBI 2016, which recorded a score of 7.33. Among the eight domains, the Family Relationship Domain recorded the highest score at 8.35, followed by Family, Role of Religion and Spiritual Practices at 8.25, Family and Community Involvement at 8.00, Family Safety at 7.86, Family Economy at 7.67, Family Health at 7.44, Housing and Environment at 7.35, and Family and Communication Technology at 6.82.

Outcomes and Significance

FWBI 2019 showed that Malaysian families continued to demonstrate strong foundations in family relationships, spirituality and community involvement. Compared with FWBI 2016, three domains recorded scores above 8.0 in 2019, reflecting positive progress in key areas of family well-being.

The findings also highlighted areas requiring continued attention, particularly communication technology, housing and environment, family health and economic well-being. These areas are important for strengthening family resilience in the context of rising living costs, changing lifestyles, digital influence and evolving family needs. The Malaysian Family Well-Being Index 2019 strengthened the role of evidence-based monitoring in family development. It provided LPPKN and relevant stakeholders with updated data to guide policy planning, improve family programmes and design more responsive interventions to enhance the well-being of Malaysian families.