Home            Contact us            FAQs
    
      Journal Home      |      Aim & Scope     |     Author(s) Information      |      Editorial Board      |      MSP Download Statistics

     Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology


The Comparison between Socio-Demographic Characteristic on Quality of Life and Marital Happiness in Sub-Urban and Rural Area in Malaysia

1Rozmi Ismail, 2Mohammad Hesam Hafezi and 3Rahim Mohd Nor
1, 3School of Psychology and Human Development, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
2Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor DarulEhsan, Malaysia
Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology  2014  7:1418-1425
http://dx.doi.org/10.19026/rjaset.7.411  |  © The Author(s) 2014
Received: May 16, 2013  |  Accepted: June 15, 2013  |  Published: February 20, 2014

Abstract

The present paper reports results of the study on effect of socio-demographic characteristic to Quality of Life (QOL) and marital happiness in Malaysia. The sample was drawn from Selangor state and Klang Valley. The objective of the study is to determine the influence socio-demographic parameters on quality of life and happiness among Malaysian household who live in sub-urban and rural area. Data was collected through interview using a set of questionnaire asking about their perception towards quality of life and happiness. The results of the study showed that area of residence was no significant effect on the overall QOL. In contrast there was significant effects of gender where by men tend to 27% woman. Subsequently, Based on area of residence, the study found that there is a significant difference in mean QOL scores FACES, ENRICH QOL, QOL and QOL enjoy stress among respondents living in cities, towns and rural areas. Achievement QOL mean score faces, enrich and enjoy the QOL respondents living and overcome rural town. QOL mean scores achieved for the control of stress respondents living in the rural areas is higher than those living in cities and towns. Finally, the results showed a significant positive correlation between overall QOL with six dimensions happiness.

Keywords:

Geographic characteristic, happiness, happy rate, Malaysia, quality of life,


References

  1. Altrocchi, J., 1988. Happy traditional and companionship marriages. J. Contemp. Soc. Work, 69: 434-442.
  2. Amato, P.R. and S.J. Rogers, 1997. A longitudinal study of marital problems and subsequent divorce. J. Marr. Family, 59: 612-624.
    CrossRef    
  3. Anderson, S.A., C.S. Russell and W.R. Schumm, 1983. Perceived marital quality and family life-cycle categories: A further analysis. J. Marr. Family, 45: 127-139.
    CrossRef    
  4. Argyle, M. and M. Martin, 1991. The Psychological Causes of Happiness. In: Strack, F., M. Argyle and N. Schwarz (Eds.), Subjective Well-Being: An Interdisciplinary Approach. Pergamon Press, Great Britain, pp: 77-100.
  5. Beach, S.R.H., I. Arias and K.D. O'Leary, 1986. The relationship of marital satisfaction and social support to depressive symptomatology. J. Psychopathol. Behav. Assess., 8: 305-317.
    CrossRef    
  6. Booth, A., D.R. Johnson, L. White and J.N. Edwards, 1995. Marital Instability over the Life Course: A Three Wave Panel Study 1980-1988. 2nd Edn., Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research, Ann Arbor, MI.
  7. Brickman, P., D. Coates and R. Janoff-Bulman, 1978. Lottery winners and accident victims: Is happiness relative? J. Personal. Soc. Psychol., 36: 917-927.
    CrossRef    PMid:690806    
  8. Cate, R.M. and S.A. Lloyd, 1988. Courtship. In: Duck, S. (Ed.), Handbook of Personal Relationships. Wiley, New York, pp: 409-428.
  9. Christian, J.L., D.K. O'Leary and D. Vivian, 1994. Depressive symptomatology in mutually discordant women and men: The role of individual and relationship variables. J. Family Psychol., 8: 32-42.
    CrossRef    
  10. Cox, M.J., B. Paley, M. Burchinal and C.C. Payne, 1999. Marital perceptions and interactions across the transition to parenthood. J. Marr. Family, 61: 611-625.
    CrossRef    
  11. Crohan, S.E., 1996. Marital quality and conflict across the transition to parenthood in African American and White couples. J. Marr. Family, 58: 933-944.
    CrossRef    
  12. Culp, L.N. and S.R.H. Beach, 1998. Marriage and depressive symptoms: The role and bases of self-esteem differ by gender. Psychol. Women Quart., 22: 647-663.
    CrossRef    
  13. Cummins, R.A., R. Eckersley, J. Pallant, J. Van Vugt and R. Misajon, 2003. Developing a national index of subjective wellbeing: The Australian unity wellbeing index. Soc. Ind. Res., 64: 159-190.
    CrossRef    
  14. Davidson, R.J., J.R. Marshall, A.J. Tomarken and J.B. Henriques, 2000. While a phobic waits: Regional brain activity and autonomic activity in social phobics during anticipation of public speaking. Biol. Psych., 47(2): 85-95.
    CrossRef    
  15. Fincham, F.D. and T.N. Bradbury, 1987. The assessment of marital quality: A reevaluation. J. Marr. Family, 49: 797-809.
    CrossRef    
  16. Freudiger, P., 1983. Life satisfaction among three categories of married women. J. Marr. Family, 45: 213-219.
    CrossRef    
  17. Frey, B.S. and A. Stutzer, 2002. What can economists learn from happiness research? J. Econ. Literat., 40(2): 402-435.
    CrossRef    
  18. Frijters, P., J.P. Haisken-De New and M.A. Shields, 2003. Investigating patterns and determinants of life satisfaction in Germany following reunification. Proceeding of the National Conference on the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey (HILDA), University of Melbourne, March 13.
  19. Giblin, P., 1994. Marital satisfaction. Family J., 2: 48-51.
    CrossRef    
  20. Glatzer, W., 1991. Quality of Life in Advanced Industrialized Countries: The Case of West Germany. In: Strack, F., M. Argyle and N. Schwarz (Eds.), Subjective Well-Being: An Interdisciplinary Approach. Pergamon Press, Great Britain, pp: 261-279.
  21. Glenn, N.D., 1998. The course of marital success and failure in five American 10-year marriage cohorts. J. Marr. Family, 60: 569-576.
    CrossRef    
  22. Glenn, N.D. and C.N. Weaver, 1981. The contribution of marital happiness to global happiness. J. Marr. Family, 43: 161-168.
    CrossRef    
  23. Hafezi, M.H. and A. Ismail, 2011a. Balancing between headway and frequency scheduling for bus service. J. Appl. Mech. Mater. Adv. Transport., 97-98: 669-673.
    CrossRef    
  24. Hafezi, M.H. and A. Ismail, 2011b. Bus scheduling model for adjustment headway of bus carriers. J. Appl. Mech. Mater. Adv. Transport., 97-98: 911-915.
    CrossRef    
  25. Hafezi, M.H. and A. Ismail, 2011c. Interaction between bus stops location and traffic on bus operation. J. Appl. Mech. Mater. Adv. Transport., 97-98: 1185-1188.
    CrossRef    
  26. Hafezi, M.H. and A. Ismail, 2011d. Study behaviour of passengers on transit operation. J. Appl. Mech. Mater. Adv. Transport., 97-98: 1154-1157.
    CrossRef    
  27. Hafezi, M.H. and A. Ismail, 2012. A comparative analysis of fare collection system on bus operations. J. Appl. Sci., 12(4): 393-397.
    CrossRef    
  28. Headey, B. and A. Wearing, 1991. Subjective Well-Being: A Stocks and Flows Framework. In: Strack, F., M. Argyle and N. Schwarz (Eds.), Subjective Well-Being: An Interdisciplinary Approach. Pergamon Press, Great Britain, pp: 49-73.
  29. Helms-Erickson, H., 2001. Marital quality ten years after the transition to parenthood: Implications of the timing of parenthood and the division of housework. J. Marr. Family, 63: 1099-1110.
    CrossRef    
  30. Holland-Benin, M. and B. Cable-Nenstedt, 1985. Happiness in single- and dual-earner families: The effects of marital happiness, job satisfaction and life cycle. J. Marr. Family, 47: 975-984.
    CrossRef    
  31. Ismail, A. and M.H. Hafezi, 2011. Analyzing of bus operation to obtain regular frequency for neo-mission. Australian J. Basic Appl. Sci., 5(11): 1275-1284.
  32. Ismail, R., M.H. Hafezi and A. Ismail, 2012a. Implementing specific lane length on bus route for operation delays reduction. J. Appl. Sci., 12(19): 2077-2081.
    CrossRef    
  33. Ismail, R., M.H. Hafezi, R.M. Nor and K. Ambak, 2012b. Passengers preference and satisfaction of public transport in Malaysia. Aust. J. Basic Appl. Sci., 6(8): 410-416.
  34. Kother, T., 1985. A balanced distance: Aspects of marital quality. Human Relat., 38: 391-407.
    CrossRef    
  35. Kraft, K., 2000. The Short and Long-Run Effects of Shocks on Life Satisfaction: Unemployment Health Problems and Separation from the Spouse in Comparison. University of Essen, Mimeo.
  36. Lawson, D.M., 1988. Love attitude and marital adjustment in the family life cycle. Sociol. Spect., 8: 391-406.
    CrossRef    
  37. Layard, R., 2003a. Happiness: Has Social Science a Clue? Lionel Robbins Memorial Lecture, London School of Economics.
  38. Layard, R., 2003b. Income and Happiness: Rethinking Economic Policy. Robbins Lecture, London.
  39. Lewis, R.A. and G.B. Spanier, 1982. Marital Quality, Marital Stability and Social Exchange. In Nye, F.I. (Ed.), Family Relationships: Rewards and Costs. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage, pp: 49-65.
    PMid:7053588    
  40. Locksley, A., 1980. On the effects of wives' employment on marital adjustment and companionship. J. Marr. Family, 42: 337-346.
    CrossRef    
  41. Lupri, E. and J. Frideres, 1981. The quality of marriage and the passage of time. Canadian J. Sociol., 6: 283-305.
    CrossRef    
  42. Mary, H. and B.C.N. Benin, 1985. Happiness in single- and dual-earner families: The effects of marital happiness, job satisfaction and life cycle. J. Marr. Family, 47(4): 975-984.
    CrossRef    
  43. Meyers, S.M. and A. Booth, 1999. Marital strains and marital quality: The role of high and low locus of control. J. Marr. Family, 61: 423-436.
    CrossRef    
  44. Rhyne, D., 1981. Bases of marital satisfaction among men and women. J. Marr. Family, 43: 941-955.
    CrossRef    
  45. Rogers, S.J., 1999. Wives' income and marital quality: Are there reciprocal effects? J. Marr. Family, 61: 123-132.
    CrossRef    
  46. Rollins, B.C. and K.L. Cannon, 1974. Marital satisfaction over the life cycle: A reevaluation. J. Marr. Family, 36: 271-282.
    CrossRef    
  47. Schafer, R.B. and P.M. Keith, 1981. Equity in marital roles across the family life cycle. J. Marr. Family, 43: 359-367.
    CrossRef    
  48. Schafer, R.B., K.A.S. Wickrama and P.M. Keith, 1996. Self-concept disconfirmation, psychological distress and marital happiness. J. Marr. Family, 58: 167-177.
    CrossRef    
  49. Schwarz, N. and F. Strack, 1998. Evaluating One's Life: A Judgement Model of Subjective Wellbeing. Mannheim.
  50. Veenhoven, R., 1991. Questions on Happiness: Classical Topics, Modern Answers, Blind Spots. In: Strack, F., M. Argyle and N. Schwarz (Eds.), Subjective Well-Being: An Interdisciplinary Approach. Pergamon Press, Great Britain, pp: 7-26.
  51. Voss, K., D. Markiewicz and A.B. Doyle, 1999. Friendship, marriage and self-esteem. J. Soc. Person. Relation., 16: 103-122.
    CrossRef    
  52. Walster, E.G., W. Walster and E. Berscheid, 1978. Equity: Theory and Research. Allyn and Bacon, Boston.
    PMid:666565    
  53. Whisman, M.A. and M.L. Bruce, 1999. Marital distress and incidence of major depressive episode in a community sample. J. Abnor. Psychol., 108: 674-678.
    CrossRef    PMid:10609431    
  54. White, L., A. Booth and J. Edwards, 1986. Children and marital happiness: Why the negative correlation? J. Family Issues, 7: 131-147.
    CrossRef    
  55. Wilkie, J.F., M.M. Ferree and K.S. Ratcliff, 1998. Gender and fairness: Marital satisfaction in two-earner couples. J. Marr. Family, 60: 577-594.
    CrossRef    
  56. Zuo, J., 1992. The reciprocal relationship between marital interaction and marital happiness: A three-wave study. J. Marr. Family, 54: 870-878.
    CrossRef    

Competing interests

The authors have no competing interests.

Open Access Policy

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

Copyright

The authors have no competing interests.

ISSN (Online):  2040-7467
ISSN (Print):   2040-7459
Submit Manuscript
   Information
   Sales & Services
Home   |  Contact us   |  About us   |  Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2024. MAXWELL Scientific Publication Corp., All rights reserved