| Item type |
Article |
| Subjects |
600 Technology > 650 Management & auxiliary services > 658 General management |
| Division/Agency |
LPPKN - National Population and Family Development Board, Malaysia: Population and Family Research Division |
| Keywords |
Single mother, B40, Women, Poverty, Socio-economy |
| Additional Information |
Corresponding Author Email: adzmel@lppkn.gov.my |
| Abstract |
Single parenting is not an uncommon family setting in Malaysia. Past studies, however, tend to confirm that increasing number of single mothers is also related to increasing number of households living in poverty. Issues on single mothers in Malaysia has initiated many social groups, non-governmental organizations and government agencies to step in eradicating poverty among the single mothers especially those fall in the B40 income groups. Until today, the current information available on single mothers in Malaysia is still limited. This study attempts to explore the socio – demographic and economic background of single mothers in Malaysia and to examine their income category and level of poverty. This study utilizes the Fifth Malaysian Population Survey (MPFS5) data. MPFS5 is a nationally representative large-scale research conducted by the National Population and Family Development (NPFDB) in 2014. However, for this study, the target respondents are working single mothers (either widowed, divorced, separated); aged 15 – 59 years old; residing in Peninsular Malaysia and have children staying together with them. Findings from this study reveal that household income of single mothers falls under the B40 category but there is not enough evidence to claim that their household income is below the poverty line. Chi – Square test of associations prove relationships between poverty level to socio – demographic variables such as level of education and residential states, while PLS – SEM techniques show that income category of single mothers is somehow related to the predictors of life satisfaction construct and the overall life satisfaction. Suggestions for some policy recommendations to protect and promote single mothers within the informal sectors is also presented. |
