/library/oar/handle/123456789/140899 2026-06-12T12:09:16Z 2026-06-12T12:09:16Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/147065 2026-06-02T12:40:57Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The role of perceived social support on recovery progress in an addiction therapeutic community Abstract: This study explores the lived experience of relational support in addiction recovery, challenging individualistic models by adopting a systemic and social constructionist perspective. Utilising Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the research investigated how two former residents of a Maltese Therapeutic Community (TC) made sense of their significant other's (SO) support during their therapeutic journey, and how these relational dynamics influenced their recovery progress. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and an innovative video-recall method, offering a dialogical and multi-layered perspective on meaning-making. Four superordinate themes emerged: Family as Anchor: Motivation, Containment, and Shared Purpose; From Shame to Dignity: Rebuilding a Moral and Relational Self; Communication and Trust: Rupture, Mediation, and Behavioural Proof; and Power, Trauma, and Autonomy: Negotiation in the Couple. The findings demonstrate that recovery is fundamentally a relational and co-constructed process, measured by the client’s perceived success in achieving relational repair, moral reconstruction, and secure attachment with their partner, rather than solely individual abstinence. The Maltese sociocultural context, characterised by high family interdependence and social visibility, amplified the emotional burden and centrality of relational dynamics. The study concludes that the therapeutic effectiveness of the TC is intrinsically linked to its ability to facilitate relational transformation. It strongly recommends the integration of trauma-informed and family-inclusive practices into TC models, particularly within culturally tight-knit communities. Description: M. FTSP(Melit.)

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/146862 2026-05-28T08:34:53Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Stalking and harassment : an analysis of the impact of this crime on tertiary educators in Malta Abstract: Despite increasing awareness of the emotional and professional risks posed to educators by stalking and harassment, local studies within tertiary education remain limited. This study explores how tertiary-level educators in Malta experience, interpret, and respond to such behaviours. The aim is to identify the relational, institutional, and socio-cultural factors that shape vulnerability and influence reporting. Using a qualitative design, the study employed semi-structured interviews and a focus group involving individuals with strong professional links to Maltese tertiary education, and to issues surrounding stalking and harassment. The resulting data were analysed thematically. The findings reveal that unwanted behaviours emerge across both physical and digital spaces, often facilitated by blurred boundaries, heightened expectations, and Malta’s small-island dynamics. Stalking and harassment were shown to have significant emotional, psychological, and professional impacts, contributing to anxiety, avoidance behaviours, and long-term shifts in educators’ confidence and sense of safety. The study also identifies substantial barriers to reporting, including fear of retaliation, reputational concerns, and perceived institutional inconsistency. Drawing on these insights, the dissertation proposes a set of evidence-based recommendations aimed at strengthening safeguarding frameworks, enhancing reporting structures, and fostering supportive institutional cultures. The study offers important new empirical insights into an underexplored area in Malta, and underscores the importance of placing educators’ wellbeing at the centre of institutional responsibility. Description: M.A. (Crim.)(Melit.)

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/145795 2026-04-21T13:32:48Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Women's lived experience of enduring domestic violence and substance abuse Abstract: Background: Domestic violence and substance abuse are interconnected issues that have serious effects on women’s physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. These intersecting experiences often trap women in cycles of trauma, dependency, and marginalisation. Understanding how women experience and cope with these challenges is essential not only for developing effective, trauma-informed responses but also for providing appropriate support and intervention. Design: A qualitative phenomenological design was employed to explore the lived experiences of women exposed to both domestic violence and substance abuse, conducted in accordance with the principles and framework of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Setting: Semi-structured, audio-recorded interviews were conducted with participants in rehabilitation settings. Four interviews took place within the rehabilitation centre during participants’ treatment programmes, while one interview was conducted outside the centre with a participant in the reintegration phase. Participants: Five adult female participants who have been exposed to domestic violence and substance abuse at any point in their lives. Method: Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants. Interview data were transcribed verbatim and analysed following the principles of IPA. Results: Seven Group Experiential Themes (GETs) emerged from the analysis, each with corresponding subthemes. The first GET, Substance Use, captures the journey from curiosity to dependency and the use of substances as a coping mechanism. The second, Domestic Violence and Abuse, reveals ongoing cycles of control and the emotional and interpersonal violence experienced. The third, Emotions, reflects the trauma, psychological impact, and resilience demonstrated by participants. The fourth, Relationships, explores patterns of broken connections, power, and manipulation. The fifth, Family and Social Support, highlights fractured family bonds and system failures in providing adequate support. The sixth GET, Experiences with Support ¸£ÀûÔÚÏßÃâ·Ñ, and lastly Sharing Advice and Future Aspirations, illustrates barriers to seeking help, perceptions of available services, and participants’ reflections on growth, recovery, and advice for others. Conclusion: The study highlights the complex interplay between domestic violence and substance abuse in shaping women’s lived experiences. Participants’ narratives reveal cycles of trauma, resilience, and recovery, underscoring the need for integrated, trauma-informed approaches that address both issues simultaneously. Enhanced awareness, coordinated services, and empathetic support are essential to promote healing and empowerment among affected women. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.)

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/145465 2026-04-10T09:14:02Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Understanding identity in later life : trauma-focused narratives of older Maltese adults living in residential care Abstract: This study explores the narrative construction of trauma-related identity among older Maltese care-home residents to inform age-appropriate counselling interventions. Trauma-related identity refers to how self-concept is shaped or influenced by a perceived or real threat to self-integrity. Five women and one man without cognitive impairments, who were above 80 years old and resided in a state-owned residential care home, shared their life narratives and the meanings they attribute to experiences in relation to personal/social identity. Data was generated through in-depth, open-ended interviews using the SQUIN (Single Question Instigating Narrative) method. SQUIN was selected to encourage narrative willingness, allowing participants to structure their life stories organically and have complete control over the unfolding story, especially as their living situations were categorised by a lack of control. Rigour and trustworthiness were ensured through reflexive journaling and a code re-coding strategy. Narrative inquiry and reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) were adopted for data collection and analysis respectively, whereby five major themes emerged. These include a childhood shaped by conflict and responsibility, trauma as a cause and consequence of social roles and identity disruption, adjustment to residential life, framing hardship through normalcy and redemption, and identity anchors as a stronghold against trauma. A major implication of this study is the need for trauma-focused care and identity maintenance within counselling services for older Maltese care home residents. Recommendations for future research include narrative gerontological trauma/identity research specific to the Maltese context. Description: M.Couns.(Melit.)

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z