https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/4153 2026-04-05T14:24:21Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/121831 Title: Yours, mine and ours : a study about the stories of a blended family Abstract: This study explored the transitions which were lived by all family members post-separation. It aimed to understand the interactions, patterns, relational and reciprocal arrangements present within the system that have enabled or hindered the blend and negotiation processes across time. A voice was given to the stories of the different members in a blended family. A case study design with narrative analysis was used. Participants included a new marital couple, an ex-partner and two children. Findings show that blended families are unique thus they may adapt differently. This blended family had many struggles including role ambiguity, boundary confusion, and split loyalties, however, they found ways to grow and strive. All members struggled to openly share their experiences with others due to the stigma and lack of knowledge found in Maltese culture. Recommendations about practices and interventions whereby practitioners and policy makers can adopt to support blended families are also brought forward. Description: M. FTSP(Melit.) 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/121830 Title: Fathers’ stories about the birth of their very preterm infant : influences on couple & parenting relationships Abstract: The study explores the stories told by five fathers who had very preterm infants needing neonatal intensive care. Few studies have focused on the father’s preterm experience, and fewer have examined the interplay between the father’s distress and the couple’s relationship as parents. Individual semi-structured interviews were held with the participants. Thematic narrative analysis elicited the impact of the father’s distress on the couple’s experience of parenting a very preterm infant. Results from the data show that distress from adverse pregnancy or birth experiences contextualised fathers’ narratives of preterm birth. Issues of gender featured in themes of coping and support; fathers felt inclined to conceal their distress and prioritised the protection of their partners. The father’s distress and the couple’s relationship were intertwined, as those who endured their distress in silence reported a less unified couple experience. Parent-infant bonding was explored in light of the attachment needs of the father, revealing that fathers needed a secure base from which to explore the parent-infant relationship in the NICU. The findings shed light on protective factors for fathers, including the couple relationship, the support of pets and extended family, the use of technology, and positive relationships with medical professionals. This study highlights the need for a family-centered approach in Malta’s NPICU that focuses on the involvement of both mothers and fathers in the preterm infant’s care, and pays attention to dyadic-partner support. Recommendations for practice include the use of technology in NICU environments to facilitate parents’ proximity with the preterm infant, and systemic approaches to staff training and support. Suggestions for research and public policy are also brought forward. Description: M. FTSP(Melit.) 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/121828 Title: The lived experience of parental infidelity in adolescence : a retrospective account Abstract: This qualitative retrospective study aims to explore the lived experience of parental infidelity in adolescence. An interpretative phenomenology approach (IPA) was adopted, and in-depth interviews were carried out with six participants who experienced parental infidelity in their adolescence. Findings were analysed and interpreted using social constructivism, trauma theory, family systems theory and attachment theory. The study revealed that since the parents did not manage to keep the couple’s problems between them, the whole family was directly impacted by the aftermath of the discovery of infidelity. Most of the participants suffered neglect and experienced parentification because of their parents’ coping skills and their propensity to adopt a victimization position. Participants also experienced triangulation and some were also bound to secrecy about family problems. The parent-adolescent relationship was affected by the conflict which resulted from parental infidelity. The trauma impacted the participants’ trust toward others and affected their relationships, particularly romantic relationships in adulthood. Seeking personal therapy and forgiveness were part of the participants’ healing process. Recommendations for future studies and implications for training are presented. Description: M. FTSP(Melit.) 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/121827 Title: Renegotiating roles, connections, and resilience : stories from families of young adults with autism Abstract: This qualitative study explores the process of renegotiating roles, connections, and resilience in families of young adults with autism. Autism is characterised by persistent impairments in social functioning and communication which significantly impact one’s social, occupational, and daily functioning across the lifespan. The functioning and dynamics of families of individuals with autism are particularly affected by this condition. A narrative analysis (NA) was adopted, and eight individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with two families, comprising two young adults with autism, their parents, and their siblings. Findings were analysed and interpreted using the social model of disability, family systems theory, resilience theory, family life cycle model, and attachment theory, which also served as the theoretical frameworks for this research. This study revealed that as expected, the whole family unit was impacted by autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the member were also affected in diverse ways, based on their position in the family, understanding of ASD and the dynamics going on within the family over time. Practical implications of supporting families of individuals with autism through family therapy and systemic interventions are discussed. Suggestions for future research are also presented. Description: M. FTSP(Melit.) 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z