This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of economic vulnerability and the corresponding coping strategies among low-income single mothers in Northern Malaysia, specifically in Penang and Perlis. Utilizing purposive and snowball sampling, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with five participants to understand the intersection of financial strain, social challenges, and adaptive mechanisms. Thematic analysis reveals that economic vulnerability is a structural issue transcending geographical locations; single mothers in rural areas face high costs of living comparable to urban centres. Key findings highlight that financial distress is exacerbated by non-compliance with child maintenance orders and systemic employment discrimination, where employers often view childcare commitments as a liability. To navigate these pressures, single mothers employ diverse survival strategies, including disciplined expenditure, small-scale savings, and reliance on informal social support networks, particularly from immediate family. The study concludes that financial aid alone is insufficient for long-term stability. The findings emphasize the urgent need for holistic policy interventions, such as skills training, flexible employment opportunities, and institutionalized childcare support, to enhance the economic resilience and social mobility of single-mother households in Malaysia.
Abdul Razak, F. (2020). Kemiskinan di Malaysia: Analisis mutakhir garis kemiskinan. Penerbit Universiti Malaya.
Abdullah, A., & Ibrahim, F. (2021). Sokongan sosial dan kesejahteraan psikologi ibu tunggal dalam mendepani cabaran hidup: Satu tinjauan literatur. Jurnal Psikologi Malaysia, 35(2), 45–58.
Abdullah, N. A., Paim, L., & Abd Rahim, R. (2010). Poverty among single mothers in Malaysia: Challenges and coping strategies. Journal of Social Development, 15(2), 45–62.
Ahmad, S. Y., Sabri, M. F., Abd Rahim, H., & Othman, S. (2017). Factors predicting financial security of female headed households. Journal of Emerging Economies and Islamic Research, 5(1).
Amato, P. R. (2000). The consequences of divorce for adults and children. Journal of Marriage and Family, 62(4), 1269–1287.
Callaghan, M. A., Watchiba, D., Purkey, E., Davison, C., Aldersey, H., & Bartels, S. (2021). “I Don’t Know Where I Have to Knock for Support”: A Mixed-Methods Study on Perceptions and Experiences of Single Mothers Raising Children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910399
Cheing, A., & Masarah, S. (2024). Social support and financial resilience among single mothers. Malaysian Journal of Social Science, 18(1), 33–50.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. Sage.
Dharani, M. K., & Balamurugan, J. (2024). The financial hardships of single mothers: A review of two decades. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 7(8), 2024179.
Evans, M. (2011). Gender and poverty in Malaysia. Asian Social Science, 7(8), 24–32.
Fadillah, S. S. A., Johan, I. R., & Herawati, T. (2025). The Effect of Financial Literacy, Social Support, and Financial Stress on Single-Mother Financial Well-being. Khazanah Sosial, 7(3), 580-596.
Harkness, S. (2022). Economic vulnerability and social support among single mothers. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 43(1), 1–15.
Lazarus, R. S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer.
Li, X., & Yu, J. (2025). Social support and coping strategies of single mothers. Journal of Community Psychology, 53(4), 1120–1136.
Lu, Y., Hao, W., & Li, X. (2020). Child support enforcement and single mother poverty: Evidence from Asia. International Journal of Social Welfare, 29(3), 233–245.
Nor, Z., Che Rasli, S., & Zakaria, S. M. (2019). Economic coping strategies of single mothers in Malaysia. Journal of Social Policy Studies, 21(2), 99–120.
Mohamad, N., & Fatmawati, S. (2020). Poverty dynamics among women-headed households in Malaysia. Asian Journal of Social Science, 48(2), 145–162.
Mulia, R. (2020). Small business and empowerment of single mothers: A case study. Gramedia Pustaka.
Muzalwana, S., Abdullah, R., & Ahmad, S. (2020). Income and poverty among single mothers in Malaysia. Malaysian Economic Review, 55(2), 67–88.
Naderifar, M., Goli, H., & Ghaljaie, F. (2017). Snowball sampling: A purposeful method of sampling in qualitative research. Strides in development of medical education, 14(3), 1-6.
Ramli, N., Ghapar, F., & Abu Seman, N. (2023). Factors influencing financial well-being of single mothers in Malaysia. Journal of Malaysian Family Studies, 11(1), 15–32.
Ramos, F., & Tus, J. (2020). Coping strategies and resilience of single mothers. International Journal of Psychology, 55(6), 910–925.
Rasli, C. N. C., Nor, Z. M., & Radzi, R. M. (2025). Coping with financial stress: A thematic analysis of low-income single mothers in northern Malaysia. Muallim Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 9(3), 187–203.
Sulaiman, A., Abdul Rahman, S., & Lim, T. (2021). Household poverty measurement in Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Economic Studies, 58(3), 301–320.
Tafran, T., Mahmud, A., & Singh, P. (2020). Gendered poverty: Women and income disparity in Malaysia. Asian Social Indicators Journal, 10(2), 25–44.
Wahab, H. A., & Ahmad, N. (2021). Kemiskinan pelbagai dimensi dan kesejahteraan hidup ibu tunggal di Malaysia. Journal of Social Science and Humanities, 18(4), 15–29.
Weimann-Sandig, N. (2020). Malaysia and its transition process towards more gender equality at the labor market. Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 5(7), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v5i7.441
Zakaria, S. M., Abdullah, N., Md. Akhir, N., Amin, A. S., Mohd Shukry, A. N. A., Abdul Rashid, M. R., & Wan Yusof, W. N. (2022). Perceptions of quality of life during the pandemic: A case study on B40 single mothers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 12219. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912219
Zakaria, S. M., Nor, Z., Rafisah Mat Radzi, & Che Rasli, S. (2022). Coping strategies among low-income single mothers in Malaysia. Journal of Social Policy and Development, 24(1), 75–98.
Zain, N. I. M., Nor, Z. M., Radzi, R. M., & Omar, B. (2026). Economic Vulnerability and Coping Strategies among Low-Income Single Mothers: A Qualitative Study in Northern Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 16(6), 782–795.
Copyright: © 2026 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
