Page 115 - IJPS-11-4

International Journal of
Population Studies Intergenerational transfers in Malaysia

Table 5. (Continued)
Variables Received from (%) χ 2
None Children only Parents only Both
Retired 34.4 65.4 0 0.2
Homemakers 39.4 59.7 0.6 0.4
Monthly income 161.020 c
<RM 1,000 42.1 56.9 0.4 0.5
RM 1,001 – RM 1,999 47.4 51.4 0.5 0.7
RM 2,000 – RM 2,999 51.8 46.4 1.5 0.4
RM 3,000 and above 68.8 29.6 1.2 0.3
Health status 83.565 c
Good 53.2 45.4 0.8 0.7
Moderate 41.6 57.7 0.4 0.4
Poor 39.9 58.8 0.7 0.7
Received government financial assistance 123.421 c
No 44.0 54.8 0.6 0.6
Yes 64.5 34.7 0.8 -
Taking care of grandchildren 1.305
No 47.4 51.4 0.6 0.6
Yes 46.8 52.2 0.6 0.3
Helping with household chores 3.289
No 47.8 51.0 0.6 0.5
Yes 44.7 54.3 0.5 0.6
Note: p<0.10, p<0.05, p<0.01.
b
a
c
3.3.2. Financial transfers between respondents and or had a spouse were observed to receive lower financial
parents transfers from their parents.
All variables that determine the financial support amount 4. Discussion
given by respondents to their parents, except for age,
gender, and living arrangement, are statistically significant Female respondents were observed to provide lesser
(Table 8). Meanwhile, five independent variables were financial support amount to their children compared to
found to be significant in determining the total amount of their male counterparts. Compared to men, women in
financial transfers that the respondents received from their Malaysia tend to be outside of the labor force, fulfilling their
parents, which are age, gender, ethnicity, and marital status roles as housewives. These women’s lack of participation in
(Table 9). the workforce restricts their financial capacity to support
for their children. Unfortunately, compared to male
Compared to Malay, all other races were observed to respondents, they also received less financial support from
provide more financial support amount to their parents. their parents or children.
Respondents with a higher education level had more living
parents, not working due to labor market reasons, and These findings are concerning because their lack of
earned a higher income also were observed to give more participation in the labor market hinders them from
financial transfers to their parents. However, those with earning a regular income through paid work, which in
turn prevents them from saving enough money for old
spouses who had poorer health conditions and received age. They will therefore be more financially dependent on
financial assistance from the government were observed to their children (Hamid et al., 2004). Masud et al. (2008)
provide less money to their parents.
have cautioned that Malaysian women are more likely
Meanwhile, older respondents and being Indian and to face poverty in their old age because of the possibility
Others enabled them to receive more financial support of inadequate financial support from their children –
from their parents. However, respondents who are female especially if their children have low salaries.

Volume 11 Issue 4 (2025) 109 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.1326