Financial Well-Being and Capability Influence on Quality of Life of Low-Income Group Women in Malaysia

This study aims to examine the effect of low-income group (LIncG) women’s financial well-being (FWB) on their quality of life (QoL) and to assess the moderating effect of capability on the relationship between their FWB and QoL. A survey of 320 LIncG women was conducted in Malaysia. QoL constructs examined were overall QoL in general, QoL in terms of overall health, and four domains of QoL: physical health, psychological, social relationship, and environment. The results indicated that FWB had a significant positive effect on the LIncG women’s overall QoL in general and the three QoL domains of physical health, social relationship and environment. However, FWB had no significant effect on LIncG women’s QoL in terms of the overall health and psychological domain. Additionally, the results demonstrated that capability had a significant positive moderating effect only on the relationship between the FWB and QoL (in terms of psychological domain) of LIncG women. Nonetheless, capability was found to have no moderating effects on the relationship between FWB and the other QoL constructs (overall QoL in general, overall health, physical health, social relationship and environment). The findings of this study offer useful empirical evidence regarding the QoL of women in the LIncG in Malaysia. Strategies should be formulated to improve the FWB of LIncG women which will ultimately enhance their QoL.