Abstract
A cross-sectional study was carried out among 398 residents randomly selected from 10 grids in Penang to obtain population norms of SF-36v2 health survey questionnaire. Scoring of the questionnaire was done using standard (United States) and Malaysia specific scoring algorithms. Internal consistencies met the minimum criteria (> 0.7) for all scales except for vitality in Tamil version. The effect size difference between standard and Malaysia specific PCS and MCS scores was <0.5. The mean standard PCS and MCS scores of Malaysian population showed high level of measurement equivalence with US population scores. Physical health was determined by age group, marital status and level of education whereby, Malay ethnicity, un-employment, and lower level of education and monthly income was associated with poor mental health.