期刊名称:International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences
电子版ISSN:2222-6990
出版年度:2018
卷号:8
期号:9
页码:1309-1320
DOI:10.6007/IJARBSS/v8-i9/4698
语种:English
出版社:Human Resource Management Academic Research Society
摘要:Quality of life is an issue frequently discussed among social researchers as it can negatively affect one’s life and affect an individual’s mental health. This issue relates closely to the factors of economy and income. In 2015, the Department of Statistics recorded 2.7 million of the B40 income group, with 63% living in the city while 37% lived outside the city. In 2014, the Economic Planning Unit reported the average monthly income for this group as RM2,537, which is 80% lower compared to the monthly average salary of households in Malaysia of RM6,141. The income for this group is also found to be five times lower from the average income for T20 (RM14,305) and twice as low the average income for M40 (RM5,662). The B40 group faces pressure from high living costs. Their average income of RM2,537 is lower than the mean monthly household consumption expenditure by RM3,578 with 29% of households have expenditure higher than income. This income and spending mismatch can affect the quality of life for the B40 group if no measures are taken to resolve this. The income for the B40 group averages below RM3,860 a month. The creation of an index for the low-income target group that is comprehensive is needed to form the foundations of social and economic development in the future. The objective of this research was to study the relationship between social capital and mental health towards the quality of life for the low-income group B40. Initial research was in the form of survey involving 100 households in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software. This study can contribute to the formulation of national policies regarding social welfare especially for the lower income groups.