Souls of Survival: COVID-19, Spirituality and Coping Outcomes Among Malaysia’s Informal Workforce

Year 2025, Volume: 12 Issue: 1, 179 - 195, 31.03.2025

Nurul Afifah Ahmad Shabudin , Nur Zafifa Kamarunzaman

https://doi.org/10.30798/makuiibf.1470754

Abstract

This study aims to examine how spirituality influenced coping outcomes among informal workers during the COVID-19 epidemic. The Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA) theory is used to comprehend how informal workers cope. 367 heads of households residing in Kuala Lumpur's government flats, generally called people's housing projects (PPRs), participated in the quantitative study. Using the multiple regression analysis and PROCESS, the study found a relationship between physical, financial, and social capital and coping outcomes. On another note, spirituality mediated the coping outcomes during hard times, except for natural and physical capital. Spirituality builds resilience and hopefulness, essential for good mental health within this group. This paper also presents the practical implications of government machinery in mitigating the epidemic's effects on informal workers, particularly in urban areas.

Keywords

Informal Worker, Coping Outcomes, Sustainable Livelihood Approach, Spirituality

Ethical Statement

Ethics committee approval for the study was obtained from the Universiti Teknologi MARA, Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies Ethics Review Committee on April 12, 2022, with reference number ERC/03/2022 (EMA737/16). The authors declare that the study was conducted in accordance with research and publication ethics. The authors confirm that no part of the study was generated, either wholly or in part, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. The authors affirm that there are no financial conflicts of interest involving any institution, organization, or individual associated with this article. Additionally, there are no conflicts of interest among the authors. The authors declare that the first, and corresponding, author of the study contributed to the planning, data collection and analysis of research; the second author of the study contributed to the literature review and discussion and results sections.

Supporting Institution

Faculty of Administrative Science, and the Governance and Policy Study (GAPS), Universiti Teknologi MARA

Thanks

The authors gratefully acknowledge the invaluable contributions of all study participants. We also thank the Faculty of Administrative Science and the Governance and Policy Study (GAPS), Universiti Teknologi MARA, for their assistance and support throughout this research project.

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