The Predictors of Life Satisfaction among Middle-Aged Malay Women in Hulu Langat, Selangor

Life satisfaction can be determined by a variety of factors including life cycle and geography. Middle age in particular is often considered synonymous with the ‘mid-life crisis’ where dramatic changes in personality, lifestyle, and priorities might be detected. The objective of this study is to analyze the predictors of life satisfaction for middle-aged Malay women. A set of questions was issued to 410 middle-aged Malay women in Hulu Langat, Selangor. It was expected that factors including social support, self-esteem, friendship, and religion might influence life satisfaction and thus the questionnaire was designed to explore these issues. A purposive sampling method was used to ensure that selected respondents fulfilled a number of characteristics: they must be working women, Malay, aged between 40-59 years old, and live and work in Hulu Langat, Selangor. The responses were then subjected to multiple regression (stepwise) statistical analysis. The results showed that social support, self-esteem and loneliness all had an impact, but religious factors were less important in predicting life satisfaction among middle aged Malay women. The result of R² showed that all variables tested contributed to 47% of life satisfaction variances. The study’s results contribute to an improved understanding of the predictors of life satisfaction among women and will, therefore, benefit psychologists, counselors, researchers and social workers. The results could also provide information for programs designed to enhance life satisfaction and constitute a reference point for women’s future welfare policy.