Investigating the Effect of Coping Strategies and Resilience Towards Stress Among Single Mothers in Terengganu, Malaysia

Abstract

Single mothers must play double roles as mothers and the head of the family. They must deal with many challenges to survive. Thus, this study aims to investigate the effect of coping strategies, and resilience on stress among single mothers in Terengganu, Malaysia. This quantitative study involved 328 single mothers in the Kuala Nerus of Terengganu. The data was collected purposively through surveys questionnaire. This study found that resilience has a negative and significant effect on stress. Besides that, the coping strategies (e.g., problem-centred behavior and avoidant behavior) have a significant effect on single mother stress. Social-supported behavior and emotion-centred behavior do not have a significant effect on stress. In conclusion, this study has identified the level of coping strategies, resilience, and stress. Also, the authors indicated that resilience has negative effects and coping strategies (e.g., problem-centred behavior and avoidant behavior) have positively affected single mothers' stress in Terengganu, Malaysia. A few recommendations were proposed based on the findings.