Coping with financial stress: a thematic analysis of low-income single mothers in northern Malaysia

Low-income single mothers endure compounded financial stress arising from their roles as sole providers and primary caregivers, often within systems that offer limited institutional support. The coping patterns identified are examined through the lenses of Stress and Coping Theory (Lazarus & Folkman), Resilience Theory (Masten), and Conservation of Resources Theory (Hobfoll), which together highlight how these women navigate adversity by drawing on both internal strength and scarce external resources. This qualitative study explores the coping experiences of 19 single mothers in Northern Malaysia using semi-structured interviews, and the data were thematically analysed using NVivo version 12/14 software. A qualitative approach was employed, supplemented by descriptive quantitative data using the InCharge Financial Distress/Financial Well-Being Scale to assess perceived financial stress. The findings revealed four core coping strategies: spiritual engagement, informal entrepreneurial activities, dependence on social support, and self-regulated financial practices. In addition, four subthemes were identified that provided greater depth: (1) parenting-related sacrifices, where mothers forgo personal needs to ensure their children’s welfare; (2) social stigma, which discourages seeking assistance and reinforces marginalisation; (3) emotional and psychological strain, characterised by internalised distress; and (4) growing disillusionment with political and welfare systems due to unmet expectations and bureaucratic inefficiencies. This study calls for multidimensional policy responses that address not only economic deprivation but also the social and psychological realities of single motherhood.