Ir-Ramla

2026-09-29T10:37:08Z

Title: Ir-Ramla Abstract: Ir-Ramla (magħrufa mill-Maltin bhala r-Ramla I-Ħamra) toffri pajsaġġ mill-isbaħ fil-kampanja ta' Għawdex. Dan l-artiklu jagħti tagħrif dwar l-importanza ekoloġika ta' dan is-sit uniku, fejn tinstab medda ta' gharam tar-ramel, li ma tinstab mkien iżjed f'Ghawdex.

Il-Qattara

2026-09-29T10:32:19Z

Title: Il-Qattara Abstract: ld-Dwejra u I-inħawi ta' madwarha huma magħrufin kemm għall-importanza tagħhom fiI-ġeoloġija (I-istudju ta' kif u meta ġiet iffurmata I-art) kif ukoll fl-ekoloġija (l-istudju tal-ħlejjaq u tal-ħabitat Ii jgħixu fih). Minbarra l-Ġebla tal-General, fid-Dwejra tinstab ukoll il-Qattara, għadira żgħira, Ii żżomm fiha s-sena kollha l-ilma ħelu.

Is-Sisien ta' Ċenċ

2026-09-29T10:09:57Z

Title: Is-Sisien ta' Ċenċ Abstract: Dan huwa il-ħames artiklu minn sensiela dwar siti ta' importanza ekologika f'Għawdex. Ta' Ċenċ huwa sit ekologiku ta' importanza kbira. Huwa kumpless naturali ta' diversi tipi ta' ħabitat, Ii jikkonsistu f'sisien, irdumijiet, u widien, kif ukoll medda ta' xaghri kbira Ii tieħu mill-Misraħ saI-Ponta taI-Iżgandlu. Dan I-artiklu jittratta biss dwar is-sisien Ii nsibu f'Ta' Ċenċ, swar naturali ta' blat żonqri Ii jogħla sa 130 metru (452 pied) 'I fuq minn wiċċ iI-bahar.

Anxiety, depression and stress in parents and siblings of people who have Prader-Willi syndrome : morbidity prevalence and mitigating factors

2026-04-24T08:59:06Z

Title: Anxiety, depression and stress in parents and siblings of people who have Prader-Willi syndrome : morbidity prevalence and mitigating factors Authors: Micallef Pulè, Kristina; Hughes, Brian M. Abstract: Background: Individuals with PWS need constant support and/or supervision, which creates a high caregiver burden on their parents and siblings. Previous research has identified adverse stress outcomes in relatively small and country- specific samples. This study's aims were to examine stress outcomes in a large multi- country sample of parents and siblings and to expand upon previous research by incorporating data on psychosocial factors that may mitigate stress outcomes. Methods: The sample comprised 135 parents of a child with PWS, with additional data for 45 siblings as reported by parents. Participants were recruited from 31 countries, spanning Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia and Australasia, who participated by completing an online questionnaire that included standardised psychometric measures of depression and anxiety (HADS), life stress (PSS), PTSD symptoms (CATS- C) and family cohesion (FACES II). Outcomes were compared to published population norms, and multiple regression was used to investigate the role of potential exacerbating and mitigating factors. Results: Findings revealed high rates of mental pathologies in both parents and siblings. Parents' scores for depression and anxiety indicated high rates of caseness: 67.4% of parents exhibited ‘abnormal’ levels of anxiety, while 15.6% exhibited ‘borderline abnormal’ levels; 34.8% exhibited ‘abnormal’ levels of depression, with 22.2% exhibiting ‘borderline abnormal’ levels. Younger parents exhibited higher anxiety than older parents (p = 0.007); younger male parents reported higher depression than older male parents (p = 0.029). Parents whose child with PWS lived in the family home exhibited higher depression scores than parents whose child with PWS lived away from home (p = 0.035). Family cohesion was inversely associated with parental depression (p < 0.001) and parental anxiety (p = 0.012), even when statistically controlling for age of parent, age of child with PWS and pa rental education level. Scores for life stress were markedly higher than population norms, with 88.7% of parents exhibiting ‘high’ or ‘moderate’ life stress. Parental life stress was significantly correlated with temper outburst severity in their child with PWS (p < 0.001) and with food problem severity (p < 0.001). All siblings exhibited at least one symptom of PTSD, with 28.9% of siblings exhibiting ‘clinically relevant’ levels of PTSD symptoms. Sibling PTSD symptom levels were significantly associated with temper outburst severity in the child with PWS (p = 0.025) but not with ratings of food problem severity (p = 0.114). Family cohesion was inversely associated with PTSD symptoms in siblings (p = 0.022). Conclusions: PWS impacts families negatively, and relatives suffer as a result. The findings of this study confirm that parents and siblings of persons with PWS exhibit clinically notable levels of mental pathology. Strategies to enhance family cohesion should be employed to help diminish adverse outcomes among PWS families.

OAR@UM Community:

Ir-Ramla

Il-Qattara

Is-Sisien ta' Ċenċ

Anxiety, depression and stress in parents and siblings of people who have Prader-Willi syndrome : morbidity prevalence and mitigating factors