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

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.