BT : More HDB families choose to live near parents

Business Times - 30 Mar 2010

More HDB families choose to live near parents

By ABIGAIL KOR

FAMILY ties among public housing residents have strengthened over the years, the Housing and Development Board's latest sample household survey shows.

The survey, which covered 8,000 households, also revealed a growing trend among married couples to live near or together with their parents.

The survey explored three main aspects of family ties - living arrangements, interaction and support and the well-being of family life.

It showed the percentage of married couples aged between 21 and 54 who live with or close to their parents increased from 29.3 per cent in 1998 to 35.5 per cent in 2008, when the survey was carried out.

Another finding was that the frequency of visits between children and parents increased marginally.

The percentage of younger married people who visited their parents at least once a month rose to 90.7 per cent in 2008, from 87.8 per cent in 2008.

Similarly, 90.8 per cent of older people said in 2008 that their married children visited them at least once a month, up from 90.4 per cent in 1998.

Strong family support was also seen in 95 per cent of respondents who said support and care during sickness came from their spouse and married children.

Respondents were also asked whether family life was important to them and whether they were satisfied with it.

Although the response showed a slight dip from 1998, more than 90 per cent of younger married people and older people said family life is important and are satisfied with it.

Overall, the survey indicated that family life among HDB residents is in a healthy state.

The survey is carried out every five years by HDB to obtain feedback from residents and identify trends.

The findings, which are used in HDB policy reviews, help identify which aspects of the HDB environment can be improved.

Copyright © 2010 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.