Aliff Ahmad
Project Manager
on
Case Studies / Developing an Instrument for Male Well-being in Malaysia
Developing an Instrument for Male Well-being in Malaysia
Issue
Measuring well-being is no easy task. It’s often shaped by personal experiences and feelings, which makes it subjective and, at times, difficult to assess accurately. This is especially true when it comes to male well-being. In many cultures, particularly in Asia, traditional gender roles and expectations make it harder for men to openly discuss their health and emotional needs. As a result, their well-being is often overlooked or misunderstood.
Where
Malaysia (nationwide)
Our Methodology/Approach:
To understand what truly defines male well-being, we needed to dig deeper into the factors that shaped it. We decided to take a two-step approach, using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to uncover these key elements. So, we set out to hear directly from the men of Malaysia—651 of them, aged 18 and above, from all walks of life. Through their responses, we aimed to capture the real, lived experiences of men and uncover what well-being meant to them beyond the surface, looking at aspects that often go unnoticed. The goal was to build a picture that was not only meaningful but also deeply reflective of their everyday realities.
Outcome:
The results of the study led to the creation of a reliable 24-item instrument, which identified six distinct dimensions of male well-being: self-confidence, family and close relationship adaptation, physical health, living environment adaptation, autonomy and agency, and economic stability. This tool now serves as a framework to better understand and assess the well-being of Malaysian men, shedding light on areas that had previously been overlooked.
