How low income people perceived poverty? A preliminary findings on poverty attribution of B40 group in Malaysia

Abstract

Studies on understanding psychological aspects of poverty in specific population like Malaysia are very rare. Thus the causes of poverty especially among B40 groups whether is related to individual (internal) or external factors is questionable. Previous literatures indicated that there are three (3) causal attribution of poverty, that is structuralistic, individualistic, and fatalistic. This study examines the perception of B40 youth in Malaysia with regard to the causes of poverty. A total of 112 B40 youth aged 15 to 25 years old (male = 40, female = 72) in Selangor Malaysia involved in this study. Purposive sampling method was used for selecting of respondent based on the criteria on B40 youth. For the purpose of validating the instrument, a factor analysis was used. The results of this study showed that B40 youth in our sample used three (3) causal attributions of poverty; that is individualistic, followed by structuralistic and fatalistic which supporting the results of previous studies. The implication of the study will contribute to the understanding of the mind of B40 groups in Malaysia.