Beyond Four Walls: How housing shapes youth well-being in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Wan Nur Amila Aizah Wan Mohd Hasbullah1; Mahazril `Aini Yaacob; Saidatul Akma Hamik

doi:10.21834/e-bpj.v10iSI38.7657

Authors

Wan Nur Amila Aizah Wan Mohd Hasbullah1 Group Operations, Hong Leong Bank, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Mahazril `Aini Yaacob Faculty of Science Administrative and Policy Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Saidatul Akma Hamik Faculty of Science Administrative and Policy Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v10iSI38.7657

Keywords:

Youth Well-Being, Housing Conditions, Housing Affordability, Housing Mobility

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of housing conditions, housing affordability, and housing mobility on the well-being of youth in the Klang Valley, with gender serving as a moderating factor. Data were collected from 411 working youth through a structured online questionnaire. The findings reveal that housing conditions, affordability, and mobility significantly affect youth well-being. Gender was found to be partially moderate relationships, which gender only moderate housing affordability and housing mobility. The study recommends the implementation of youth-focused housing policies, financial literacy programs, and housing counselling services to support healthier transitions to independent living among youth.

References

Arundel, R., Li, A., Baker, E., & Bentley, R. (2024). Housing unaffordability and mental health: Dynamics across age and tenure. International Journal of Housing Policy, 24(1), 44–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/19491247.2022.2106541

Alia Tamezi. (2024). Malaysia Property Market Outlook 2024. PropertyGuru Malaysia. https://www.propertyguru.com.my/property-guides/malaysia-property-market-outlook-2024-72338

Buh, B., Beaujouan, E., & Berrington, A. (2025). Belonging to the neighbourhood, residential mobility, and the transition to parenthood. Population Studies, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/00324728.2025.2478929

Bouchrika, I. (2022). Types of research design: Perspective and methodological approaches «Guide 2 research. Research.com. https://research.com/research/types-of-research design.

Department of Statistics Malaysia. (2024). Anggaran Penduduk Semasa Daerah Pentadbiran Selangor 2024. In DOSM. https://www.dosm.gov.my

Groot, J., Keller, A., Joensen, A., Nguyen, T.-L., Nybo Andersen, A.-M., & Strandberg-Larsen, K. (2022). Impact of housing conditions on changes in youth’s mental health following the initial national COVID-19 lockdown: a cohort study. Scientific Reports, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-04909-5

Henkens, J. H. D., Stevens, G. W. J. M., & de Valk, H. A. G. (2024). The Relation between Residential Mobility and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in Adolescence: The Role of Subjective Moving Experience, Gender, and Friendship Quality. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 53(10), 2234–2250. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-024-02014-6

Hock, E. S., Blank, L., Fairbrother, H., Clowes, M., Castelblanco Cuevas, D., Booth, A., Clair, A., & Goyder, E. (2024). Exploring the impact of housing insecurity on the health and wellbeing of children and young people in the United Kingdom: A qualitative systematic review. BMC Public Health, 24, Article 2453. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19735-9

Kang, S. (2021). Severe and persistent housing instability: examining low-income households’ residential mobility trajectories in the United States. Housing Studies, 38(9), 1615–1641. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2021.1982871

Khazanah Research Institute (2019). Rethinking housing: Between state, market and society: A Special Report for the Formulation of the National Housing Policy (2018 – 2025), Malaysia. Khazanah Research Institute, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Keller, A., Groot, J., Matta, J., Bu, F., El Aarbaoui, T., Melchior, M., Fancourt, D., Zins, M., Goldberg, M., Andersen, A.-M. N., Strandberg-Larsen, K., & Varga, T. V. (2022). Housing environment and mental health of Europeans during the COVID 19 pandemic: A cross-country comparison. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 5612. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-09316-4

Krejcie, R.V., & Morgan, D.W., (1970). Determining Sample Size for Research Activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement.

Ludlow, T., Fooken, J., Rose, C., & Tang, K. K. (2025). Housing insecurity, financial hardship and mental health. Economics and Human Biology, 57, 101475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2025.101475

Mohd Suadi Nata, D. H., Mohamad Jamil, P. A. S., & Muhammad Rawee, M. N. (2024). A Growing Concern: Long Commutes and Mental Fatigue Among Workers. Makara Journal of Health Research, 28(3). https://doi.org/10.7454/msk.v28i3.1725

Nur Masyitah Ghazali, Marlyana Azyyati Marzukhi, & Ling, O. H. L. (2021). Urban low-cost housing effect on mental health. Planning Malaysia Journal, 19(4). https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v19i18.1049

Rodriguez-Perez, C. J., & Castellanos, X. L. (2024). Residential Instability and Children’s Mental Health: Emotional and Behavioral Consequences of Frequent Relocation. Studies in Social Science & Humanities, 3(9), 21–30. https://doi.org/10.56397/sssh.2024.09.02

Shah, A. (2024, February 14). High cost of living driving many to stay outside cities, forcing them to face long commutes [NSTTV] | New Straits Times. NST Online. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/02/1013087/high-cost-living-driving-many-stay-outside-cities-forcing-them-face-long

Seo, B.-K., & Park, G.-R. (2021). Housing, Living Arrangements and Mental Health of Young Adults in Independent Living. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(10), 5250. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105250

Simpson, A., Filipe, L., Benedetto, V., & Hill, J. (2024). The impacts of housing conditions on physical and mental health: a critical mini review informed by a rapid conversion of evidence from Alidoust and Huang (2021). Frontiers in Environmental Health, 3, 1352580. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvh.2024.1352580

Theebalakshmi, K., (2023). Curbing overhang and vacancy: The case for a vacancy tax in Malaysia. Khazanah Nasional Institute.

United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. (2022). OHCHR The human right to adequate housing. OHCHR. https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-housing/human-right-adequate-housing

Wong, P.-H., Kourtit, K., & Nijkamp, P. (2025). A Meta-Analysis of Neighbourhood Interventions on Subjective Wellbeing and Mental Health. Applied Research in Quality of Life. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-025-10440-2

Yaacob, M. A., Hassan, F., Hasan, N., Hamik, S., & Shah, H. (2024). Promoting Home Ownership among the Underprivileged: The Role of Social Financing.

Zhou, Z., Ma, Y., Du, W., Zhou, K., & Qi, S. (2021). Housing conditions and adolescents’ socioemotional well-being: An empirical examination from China. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 17, 2721–2741. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-021-09998-4

Yaacob, M.A. & Mohd Noor, N.H. (2023). Understanding the Challenges Faced by the Young People in Malaysia. Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal, 8(SI13), 3–9. https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v8iSI13.5038