Altruistic Behaviour among Gen Z Youth in Malaysia

Abstract

Malaysian youth currently face significant socio-economic challenges, including a moderate risk of mental health issues and a persistent unemployment crisis. To improve the well-being of this group, altruism is deemed as the key mechanism for developing the social and ethical skills necessary to navigate these challenges and foster societal resilience. Utilizing a quantitative survey approach with 328 polytechnic students, the research aims to establish a descriptive baseline of altruistic beliefs and behaviours among the Gen Z of Malaysian youth. Findings indicate a "Very High" level of altruistic belief (Mean = 4.3780), characterized by a strong emotional inclination toward helping others. However, actual altruistic behaviour was rated as "Moderate" (Mean = 3.3355), revealing a distinct "intention-behaviour gap". While respondents frequently engage in low-risk daily courtesies such as “picking up rubbish’’ or assisting classmates’’ they are less likely to participate in high-stakes actions like blood donation or providing rides to strangers. Spearman’s Rho correlation analysis confirmed a moderate positive relationship (rs = .406, p < .01) between beliefs and acts, suggesting that while the two are significantly linked, internal convictions do not always translate into practice. The study concludes that although Malaysian youth possess a strong moral foundation, external or internal barriers hinder consistent altruistic practice. It is recommended that future interventions should focus on action-oriented strategies and providing low-barrier opportunities for community engagement rather than further value-based education.