A New Measure for Family Resilience: Exploratory Factor Analysis of Malaysian Gen Y Family Resiliency Scale

Resilience is crucial for families to adapt to evolving social, economic, and cultural changes. However, existing family resilience scales, often rooted in Western perspectives, may not fully capture the unique resilience factors of Malaysian Gen Y families. This study aims to develop and establish the initial factor structure of the Malaysian Gen Y Family Resiliency Scale (myFRSGY), a culturally relevant and reliable measure. A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed, with 243 married participants with children. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was employed using Principal Axis Factoring with varimax rotation to identify key resilience constructs based on Walsh’s Family Resilience Framework (2003). Ten distinct factors emerged from qualitative thematic analysis of focus group discussions: family endurance, roles and responsibilities, psychological and physical support, communication and conflict resolution, financial stability, adaptability, parenting and child well-being, spiritual and moral values, independence, and social support networks. Factor loadings exceeded 0.60, explaining 60–73% of the variance. The myFRSGY scale demonstrated strong internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha greater than 0.90, suggesting high reliability, though some potential items overlap issues. The myFRSGY scale offers a culturally appropriate framework for evaluating the family resilience of Malaysian Gen Y, specifying important insights for research, counselling, social policy, and intervention programs. Future studies should utilise confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), cross-cultural validation, and longitudinal assessments to enrich generalizability and predictive capabilities. The myFRSGY scale presents a novel approach to understanding and strengthening family resilience in Malaysia.