Marriage Intention among Malaysian Chinese Young Adults: The Roles of Family Relationships, Filial Piety, and Perceived Social Support

Abstract

The decline in marriage intentions is a global trend, including in Malaysia. Yet, research on Malaysian Chinese young adults remains limited. This study explored how family relationships, filial piety, and perceived social support predict marriage intention among young Chinese adults in Malaysia. A quantitative cross-sectional online survey was conducted using purposive and convenience sampling to recruit Malaysian Chinese individuals aged 18 to 26 who were single or in a relationship. The Brief Family Relationship Scale (BFRS), Filial Behaviour Scale (FBS), Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale (MSPSS), and Intent to Marry Scale (IMS) were administered. A total of 324 participants took part (M = 22.27 years; SD = 1.71 years). Pearson correlation indicated a significant positive relationship between filial piety, perceived social support, family relationships, and marriage intention. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that perceived social support and filial piety were significant predictors of marriage intention, whereas family relationships were not. These findings provide an interesting perspective on marriage intentions and provide empirical evidence for policymakers to develop evidence-based initiatives aimed at increasing marriage intentions among Malaysian Chinese young adults and highlight the importance of social support and filial values in enhancing marriage intentions in this population.