https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146378 2026-06-07T02:14:40Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146528 Title: Navigating the juror role in Maltese criminal trials : a narrative inquiry Abstract: Research into the juror role highlights the demanding nature of jury service, requiring individuals to adapt to unfamiliar legal settings, emotional strain, and the burden of decision-making. This study explores narratives of individuals who served in Maltese criminal trials, aiming to understand how they assumed and negotiated the role. Six former jurors participated in semi-structured interviews, and data was analysed through narrative inquiry using Dewey’s three-dimensional model of experience, alongside social constructionist role theories. Findings reveal that while participants recognised the gravity of their responsibilities, they faced challenges like limited agency and questionable audience segregation. Adopting the role involved ambiguous transitions, with pre-trial expectations and prior knowledge sometimes clashing with courtroom realities. Relinquishing the role post-trial evoked both relief and disorientation. Participants evaluated the performances of other courtroom figures, with these interactions shaping their experience. The study underscores the complexity of the juror role and offers recommendations for future research. 2026-03-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146527 Title: What hinders or facilitates the participation of neurodivergent students at the University of Malta? The students’ own perspectives Abstract: The number of neurodivergent students in higher education is increasing across the world as well as in Malta. This study aimed to deepen our understanding of the continuing challenges still being faced by these students in the ableist tertiary environment. This paper presents the results of interviews with autistic students which were part of a larger mixed methods study. Four autistic students at the University of Malta responded to a semi-structured interview on their aspirations, on how far they felt enabled to participate in the university academic and social environments, and on how useful the individual accommodations were for their equitable participation. Reflexive thematic analysis of data firstly showed that these students considered the university as mainly an opportunity for self-development but experienced significant difficulties during their transition to and at the university for developing a healthy self-identity in the ableist university environment. Secondly, students called for the teaching system to be more pedagogically effective and sensitive to diverse student needs, for the physical and social environment to be more autism friendly, and for their involvement in the development of appropriate facilities for students. Thirdly, they reported that individual accommodations were necessary for their equitable participation and called for less bureaucratic processing of applications, and for individual negotiation of accommodations. The study suggests that higher education institutions should listen to the concerns of neurodivergent students and involve them in curricular and environmental planning. They need to create a diversity respectful ethos and socio-emotional support that promotes everyone’s membership in the university community, while adopting a universal design for learning mindset that is open to the diverse needs of students. 2026-03-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146393 Title: Experiencing the dissolution of a romantic relationship in older adulthood : an interpretative phenomenological analysis Abstract: This study explored the lived experience of romantic relationship dissolution (RRD) in older adulthood, a phenomenon that remains under-researched both locally and internationally. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews with five Maltese participants aged 65-75 years and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The findings highlighted the emotional complexity of romantic relationships and their endings in older adulthood. Participants initially experienced positive features of their romantic relationship, such as shared pastimes. As time progressed, a recognition of relational imbalance, betrayal, entrapment and emotional disconnection prompted deeper self-reflection and a reassessment of their emotional and relational needs. Ending their romantic relationships disrupted the participants’ lives across multiple domains, including their routines and social connections, leaving them grappling with feelings of loss and self-doubt. Despite these challenges, the participants described a process of growth, positioning RRD as both a site of vulnerability and an opportunity for renewed autonomy. Rebuilding social support networks, engaging in community organisations, and pursuing new hobbies were described as beneficial strategies when navigating the aftermath of a RRD, as were adopting goal-directed actions and using emotional coping techniques like positive self-talk. The future was not seen as a threat, but as an opportunity to redefine life on one’s own terms. The findings underscore the importance of therapeutic interventions that assist older clients in adapting to the broader psychosocial consequences following a RRD, including disruptions to social networks, while fostering confidence in their decision-making to reduce potential self-doubt. Psychoeducation and public health promotion focusing on the development and maintenance of healthy romantic connections across the lifespan may help sustain mutually satisfying relationships in older adulthood. Future research on the prevalence of RRD in older adulthood in Malta is warranted. Such research should incorporate underrepresented romantic relationship types identified in the literature, such as shorter-term or non-marital romantic relationships and re-partnering in later life, to capture a broader range of experiences within the local context. Description: A slide‑based presentation is also available within this record. 2026-03-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146526 Title: Roads diverging or roads converging? An exploration of celibacy and loneliness in the priesthood Abstract: In order to become a priest or religious, one has to take various decisions that could affect their life trajectory. When two diverging roads are presented in front of you, what affects the decision to take one or the other, and what are the results of that choice? This study delves into the stories of priests’ celibacy. Celibacy in the Catholic priesthood, whether voluntary or involuntary, has been a point of contention for decades. Research on the intersection of celibacy and loneliness is lacking, especially in the Maltese context. Hence, this study aimed to explore whether celibacy contributes to loneliness in priests, and what other factors might be contributing to loneliness in this subset of the Maltese population, through the lens of Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) ecological systems theory. This question was explored using a mixed methods approach, however for the purpose of this paper the qualitative results will be presented. The qualitative phase involved interviews with eight priests from different orders exploring their experiences of celibacy. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to extract themes from this data. The themes highlight the joys and tribulations of celibacy, what leads to choosing the road to priesthood, issues related to stereotypes and fatherhood, and the loneliness that can come with taking the road less travelled. The difference between well-integrated and poorly integrated celibacy also emerged, and the subsequent effects that each can have on a priest’s life. The desire to marry emerged from the narratives of some priests, but not all. The findings present several implications for practice, emphasising the need for structural reforms, more open conversations, and a stronger emphasis on mental health at every stage of formation in order to decrease loneliness in priests and religious. 2026-03-01T00:00:00Z