Suami Budi and Family Well-Being: A Conceptual Framework of Culturally Grounded Husband Leadership

Abstract

This paper aims to develop a conceptual framework of suami budi as a culturally grounded form of husband leadership and to examine its role in shaping family well-being. While contemporary family research increasingly emphasizes relational and emotional dimensions of marriage, the literature remains largely Western-centric, with limited integration of indigenous value systems. Addressing this gap, the present study conceptualizes suami budi, rooted in Malay cultural philosophy, as a multidimensional construct comprising budi bicara (wise judgment), budi bahasa (respectful communication), and budi pekerti (moral conduct). Drawing on emotional intelligence, ethical leadership, and relational theories, the proposed framework positions relationship quality as a mediating mechanism linking husband leadership to family well-being outcomes. The key contribution of this paper lies in extending family and leadership literature by embedding culturally specific values into a theoretically grounded model. The framework offers important implications for both theory and practice and provides a foundation for future empirical validation across diverse cultural contexts.