| CODE | FSD2002 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Current Issues in Family Studies | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Child and Family Studies | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will familiarize students with core theories and polcies in the area of family studies. The two main conceptual frameworks presented, attachment theory and resilience, will inform students' thinking on the various challenges facing families in contemporary times and on formulating effective policy responses. The major issues facing young parents today, including work-life balance issues, childcare, supporting their children's education, and ICT, will be discussed. Priority will be given to the particular challenges faced by disadvantaged families including those facing poverty, mental health issues and intimate partner violence. The importance of relationship education in strengthening family relationships will be highlighted. This study-unit places strong emphasis on the crucial role policy plays in social wellbeing by supporting and empowering families. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims to present students with the opportunity to learn about the major issues in family life today. It also aims to help students develop an understanding of how theory and policy support and strengthen family life. Emphasis will be placed whenever possible on academic studies carried out in Malta, as well as Maltese policies, in order to highlight the importance of taking into account the Maltese context when drawing up policy. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - dicuss the major family issues being faced in Malta and in developed countries; - identify the various background contexts for these issues; - outline the value systems at play in scientific debates on family issues; - elucidate how theories can frame issues being discussed and enhance an understanding of them; - link the impact of family issues on societal wellbeing as a whole. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - use concepts drawn from family studies theory in policy development; - apply research findings and implications to the formulation of policy; - contextualize formulations of societal wellbeing through the lens of familial wellbeing. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Text - Abela, A., & Walker, J. (Eds.). (2014). Contemporary issues in family studies: Global perspectives on partnerships, parenting and support in a changing world. Chichester, England: Wiley-Blackwell. Supplementary Readings: - Abela, A. (2013). Malta. In R. E. Emery (Ed.), Cultural sociology of divorce: An Encyclopedia (Vol. 2, pp. 748-753). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. - Abela, A. (2016). Family life. In M. Briguglio & M. Brown (Eds.), Sociology of the Maltese Islands (pp. 17-48). Luqa, Malta: Miller. - Abela, A., Casha, C., Borg Xuereb, R., Clark, M., Inguanez, J., & Sammut Scerri, C. (2012). The needs of Maltese families with dependent children: A focus group study among professionals. Bank of Valletta Review, (45), 55-86. - Abela, A., Debono, M., Farrugia, R., Sant, S., & Vella, A. (2004). Helping families to balance work with home: Proposals for policy. Valletta, Malta: National Family Commission. - Abela, A., Frosh. S, & Dowling, E. (2005). Uncovering beliefs embedded in the culture and its implications for practice: The case of Maltese married couples. Journal of Family Therapy, 27(1), 3-23. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6427.2005.00296. - Abela, A., & Tabone, C. (2008). Research on the Family Series: No. 1. Family poverty and social exclusion with a special emphasis on children. Valletta, Malta: National Family Commission. - Benson, H., & Callan, S. (Eds.). (2009). What works in relationship education? Lessons from academics and service deliverers in the United States and Europe. Doha, Qatar: Doha International Institute for Family Studies and Development. - Borg Xuereb, R., Abela A., & Spiteri, G. (2012). Early parenting - portraits from the lives of first-time parents. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 30(5), 468-482. doi: 10.1080/02646838.2012.744961. - Crane, D. R., & Heaton, T. B. (Eds.). (2008). Handbook of families and poverty. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. - Daly, M. (Ed.). (2007). Parenting in contemporary Europe: A positive approach. Strasbourg, France: Council of Europe. - European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. (2014). Violence against women: An EU-wide survey Main results. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. - Golombok, S. (2015). Modern families: Parents and children in new family forms. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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