Exploring the Role of Religious Commitment and Family Capital in Shaping Happiness Index Among Buddhist Communities in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Project Title:

Exploring the Role of Religious Commitment and Family Capital in Shaping Happiness Index Among Buddhist Communities in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Research Team:

Principal Investigator: Associate Prof. Dr. Fonny Dameaty Hutagalung

Co-Researcher: Dr. Samsul Maarif, Dr. Yulianti, Venerable You Deng

Background:

Happiness is more than material success—it includes emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. In Buddhist communities of Malaysia and Indonesia, religious commitment and family support may strongly influence happiness. This study explores how these factors shape the Happiness Index, beyond income or wealth.

Research Objectives:

• To examine how religious commitment influences happiness among Buddhist communities in Malaysia and Indonesia.
• To evaluate the role of family capital—emotional, social, and support-based resources—in shaping life satisfaction.
• To investigate the interaction between religious commitment and family capital in determining subjective well-being.
• To provide comparative insights between the two countries and identify cultural patterns in Buddhist communities that influence happiness.

Research Methodology:

Study Design: Quantitative cross-sectional survey

Sample Size: 400 total (200 Buddhists in Malaysia; 200 in Indonesia)

Sampling Method: Simple random sampling (Creswell, 1987) to ensure representativeness

Locations:

• Indonesia: Jakarta, Surabaya, Yogyakarta
• Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang

Instruments Used:

• Religious Commitment Inventory (RCI): Measures belief, behavior, and intrinsic faith
• Family Capital Scale: Assesses emotional, financial, and social support from family
• Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS): Evaluates individual perception of happiness