Modelling Well-Being with Mindfulness Intervention on Bottom- and Middle-40% Income Earners in Malaysia

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Mindfulness is explored as a low-cost cognitive tool for enhancing well-being.
• Malaysian low- and middle-income groups (B40 and M40) face unique stressors.
• Digital interventions offer scalable solutions for mental health support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of a digital mindfulness intervention on the well-being of Malaysian B40 and M40 income earners.
• To assess mindfulness's role in mediating perceived stress and financial desire discrepancies.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of online mindfulness sessions and mobile app practices.

Main Methods:

• An experimental study with intervention (n=95) and control (n=31) groups.
• Four weekly online mindfulness sessions via Google Meet and daily home practice with the MindFi mobile app.
• Pre- and post-assessment questionnaires analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test and PLS-SEM.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed significant increases in mindfulness and well-being levels post-intervention.
• A positive relationship was found between mindfulness and subjective well-being (β = 0.162, p < 0.01).
• Perceived stress significantly mediated the relationship between mindfulness and subjective well-being (β = 0.152, p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Digital mindfulness interventions are effective in enhancing the well-being of low- and middle-income populations.
• Mindfulness practice reduces perceived stress, contributing to improved psychological and subjective well-being.
• This study highlights the potential of accessible digital tools for mental health promotion in vulnerable economic groups.