Prudential Relationship Index 2017

So everyone stresses that relationships are important and how very essential they are to our happiness, well being and longevity. 

So what do we truly understand about relationships? What are the dynamics? What weakens them? And what makes them stronger?

The inaugural 2016 Prudential Relationship Index (PRI) opened the eyes of many and brought forward a greater understanding of personal relationships. We saw smiles and tears, laughter and fears, but most importantly, we saw love and respect. 

The findings revealed behaviours that influence relationships and key drivers to make them better.

And because of the success, Prudential decided to launch the second edition of the Prudential Relationship Index (PRI), exploring the state of relationships across Asia, in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.

For this year, over 4,600 people shared insights into their relationships with partners, parents, children, friends and relatives.

In Malaysia itself, some 516 interviews were conducted through the online sampling of adults between 25 and 55 years of age living in Kuala Lumpur or Petaling Jaya. Respondents had monthly household incomes of at least RM4,000, representing approximately the top two-thirds of household incomes in the survey cities.

The 2017 Prudential Relationship Index for Malaysia is 68/100. This means, on average, people’s primary relationships fulfil 68% of their desired needs. On the flip side, these results reveal a 32%

“relationship gap” in Malaysia.

The PRI score for Malaysia in 2017 is three points lower than the PRI score for 2016 (71/100). 

Malaysia is now the country with the 6th highest PRI score out of the nine countries surveyed. Cambodia has the highest PRI ranking at 86/100; China has the lowest PRI ranking at 54/100. The average PRI across all countries is 71/100.

Given the importance of relationships to happiness, well-being and longevity, the PRI offers understanding and insight into relationships in Malaysia. So.... what are the pillars of a relationship?

How can we make them stronger, better and more rewarding?

90% of adults surveyed in Malaysia (25-55) are in a relationship with a partner, of those 73% are married, and 56% are parents. 58% say their best relationship is with their partner over all their other relationships... hmmmm...

Let's focus on the relationship with our parents - the folks that raised us to who we are today, some of us have been lucky and have awesome parents in their lives, people who guided them, doted on them and raised them with all the love they got... some less fortunate, but whatever it is, they are still our parents... 

The 2017 relationship scores that Malaysians have with their parents is 47/100, one point lower than in 2016. This indicates that among those with living parents, approximately 47% of their relationship needs are provided for by their parents. The average parent relationship scores for the countries surveyed in 2017 is 48/100.

As a Muslim, Islam commands us to honor our parents, to obey them, to respect their opinion, and to be kind in general to family members...

Malaysians look for their parents to provide support with 76% wanting their parents to stand up for them – the most important attribute both in 2017 and 2016. 

Malaysians also want their parents to respect their individuality and to be easy to get along with (both 63%)

The lower relationship score that Malaysians have with their parents in 2017 is partly due to them feeling that their parents are less likely to meet their most important relationship needs... probably because sometimes parents are set in their old ways and expect us to still toe their lines...

64% think that their parents are easy to get along with, compared with 66% who thought so in 2017. 70% say their parents respect their individuality, compared with 76% in 2016...

My mom can be my best friend at times, but then there are times when she start to draw up the age gap, her own insecurities and all, and when that happens, we start arguing again..

The increasing tech-savviness of the older generations means that Malaysians are more likely to think their parents frequently send them texts or emails (45% in 2017 compared with 30% in 2016).

On this note.. I find it amusing that my mom will send me good morning pictures and strange videos everyday, some which to be honest, I don't even open, but I am still touched by her gesture...

There is little difference in how often Malaysians participate in activities with their parents. 40% say they participate in a family activity with them at least once a week – the same proportion who did so in 2016. 

On this note, my mom and me meet up for lunches and window shopping when we can.. probably once in a week or in two weeks...

Malaysians are slightly more likely to have a regular conversation with their parents:

56% talk to their parents for one hour or more at least once a week, compared with 54% who did so in 2016. 

42% tell their parents that they love them at least once a week, compared with 37% in 2016.

Yeah, as the only child I guess my mom feels insecure around me since her guilt of not treating me like her most precious child when I was a kid is also kinda eating her up, so everytime we text or call, I am obligated to tell her I love her to assure her that yeah, I still care... huhuhu

Although Malaysians are more likely to communicate with their parents, they are also more likely to argue with them, with 19% doing so at least once a week compared with 15% in 2016


I absolutely agree on this... hahaha... because our different opinions and all... but at the end of the day blood is still thicker then water and we still stand by each other when we need each other...

Did you know that when it comes to financial planning.. It has been proven that pooling resources together is linked with good relationships. Those who make plans together for all their financial matters have a partner relationship score of 72/100, whereas those who keep their financial plans separate have a relationship score of 52/100.. 

That was the case where  I would pay for the handphone bills, the WiFi bills, the water, electricity and Astro bills whilst my partner would pay for the house rental...

On the other hand, since I just recently got out from the relationship with a huge beating, I have to begin saving, budgeting and counting pennies all over again, as my previous relationship left me with a lot of debts... because lets face it, many of us do not save enough for our old age..and I have to admit that one of them is me, fortunately I have an insurance plan that is of some mind comfort and a unit trust plan going on... but well, we really NEED to save for our golden years as the cost of living escalates every year...

Check out the Prudential Relationship Index here..

https://www.prudentialrelationshipindex.com/my/

Or better still, download the Prudential Relationship Index 

https://www.prudentialrelationshipindex.com/my/en/relationship-index