KUALA LUMPUR: A study on happiness has found Chinese Malaysians less happy now, as the traditional value of filial piety is losing prominence.

Prof. Dr. Lim Hock Eam from College of Business, Economy, Finance and Banking at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), said the study showed unhappiness is caused by changes in cultural values among Chinese Malaysians, with filial piety no longer a priority now.

Many feel that they do not have control over their lives, and they have less freedom of choice now.

Chinese Malaysians aged between 36 and 40 are the unhappiest, as people in this age group are climbing the corporate ladder, or starting a business, having a family of their own, and having to care of their aged parents.

“A person will not be happy if he does not have the freedom of choice.

“His cultural values would have to be increased drastically to compensate the loss of freedom,’’ Lim explained.

Prof. Dr. Lim said the key factor to a happy life lies with whether one has control over his life.

He said this in a talk themed “Chinese society in Malaysia: Moving towards a happier society?” organised by the Centre for Malaysian Chinese Studies (CMCS) last Saturday.

The study, which started in 2006, examines the changes in cultural values and happiness among 957 Chinese Malaysian participants, as well as the impact of cultural values on their happiness.

Prof. Dr. Lim said the study also indicated that one would not be happy if he is not filial to his parents.

To compensate that, he would need to earn a much higher income to be happy.

Earning a high income is not an easy task, he admitted.

“To increase your personal happiness index, you just need to be filial to your parents,’’ he asserted.

For the Malaysian Chinese society to become happier, Prof. Dr. Lim said the society needs to reverse the decline in filial piety and freedom of choice, and enhance trust and equality.

The happiness indicator differs in societies and countries, he said, where many factors play a role.

Citing an example, he said people in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia will be happy as long as traditional practices are maintained.

For Chinese Malaysians, he said happiness lies on filial piety, religion and freedom of choice.