FACTORS IMPACTING THE WELLBEING OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN MALAYSIA’S RURAL SETTLEMENTS

Abstract

A rural development process could have a direct impact on the wellbeing of rural households. This wellbeing assessment needs to be addressed adequately in Malaysia. The aim of this paper is to investigate the factors impacting the wellbeing of rural households in Malaysia’s rural settlements. The Iskandar Malaysia region in Johor was selected as a study area because of its diverse settlements, consisting of seven types of rural settlements in Johor. A quantitative approach was adopted by means of a household survey involving 282 heads of households as respondents. The finding reveals that different types of rural settlements were affected by different factors that influence the wellbeing of the rural households. This paper can provide an understanding of the factors that affect wellbeing, specifically income generation and job opportunities for rural households based on different types of rural settlements.