https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/84691 2026-04-04T22:01:58Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/122799 Title: The role of the social worker in the Family Court regarding marital separations Abstract: The intention of the study was to examine the involvement of social workers in the family court regarding marital separations. It highlighted the different roles that social workers use while working with persons going through marital separations. A comparative study with an overview of the involvement of social workers in four countries, notably: Australia, New Zealand, United States and Canada was deemed necessary. The study describes how the family courts are employed in these countries and the co-ordination there is between the family courts and social work services. The four main counselling services used in these countries were explored. These were reconciliation, therapeutic, conciliation and mediation counselling. Five social workers from the Family and Children Welfare Department that prepare court reports and five separated spouses were interviewed. Results revealed that social workers are more involved in evaluation work rather than being empathic or educating the parents. In this area it seems that there exists a lacuna as no social worker is specialised in this type of work. The amount of marital separation cases screened by social workers is limited. Results revealed the lack of information spouses have about the consequences of marital separations. Furthermore, spouses needed to be guided and educated as to how to deal with children regarding their family breakdown. Results also showed that the need is felt that in Malta we have a family court that specialises with family matters. Description: DIP.SOC.WORK 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/122797 Title: Relevance of social work : social work as a factor in respite care Abstract: Families having member/s with disabilities, are in several ways disadvantaged socially. Such families may experience limitations in their social mobility usually experienced during the various maturational stages that characterize life. Like in any disadvantaged group, comprehensive respite care is seen as a major tool in re-addressing this imbalance. It aims at providing periodic relief for these families and making sure that the person with disability and other siblings have as nourishing an environment as possible. This program can be fulfilled through the development, management and administration by the social workers. They enable families to take a much-deserved break from the role and responsibility of continuously caring for a person requiring special attention. Such families will hopefully strengthen their commitment towards their members, preserving family cohesion and avoiding the risk of institutionalization. Description: DIP.SOC.WORK 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/122766 Title: The effects of domestic violence on the mother-child relationship Abstract: There has already been a considerable amount of research (such as Arriaga & Capezza (2005); Walker (2000); Baker & Cunningham (2004); and Vincent & Jouriles (2000)), which have shown the effects on domestic violence both on the mother and her children. However, this research aims to explore the effects of domestic violence on the mother-child relationship. This study will gain some insights concerning what causes the strengthening and/or the weakening of the mother-child bond as a result to the domestic violence. This study utilised a qualitative research design in order to address the research purpose. In-depth standardised open-ended interviews were conducted with six participants. The sample included abused mothers who have intimate partner violence and who had sought refuge in a domestic violence shelter. The interviews were targeted to explore the effects of domestic violence on both the mother and her child/children from the point of view of the former. In addition, this study explored the effects of the domestic violence on the mother-child relationship and attachment patterns. The results indicated that both the mother and her child/children tend to suffer from immediate and long-term negative effects of domestic violence. The most common negative effects that abused women tend to suffer include helplessness, low self-esteem, anxiety, and constant fear. On the other hand, this study revealed that domestic violence tend to affect the holistic development of children, that is, their physical, cognitive, behavioural, and emotional functioning. In addition, this study reported that although both the abused mother and her child/children tend to experience negative effects as a result to the abuse, domestic violence does not always result in the weakening of the mother-child relationship. In fact, only half of the respondents reported that the abuse had resulted in the deterioration of such relationship. In contrast, the other half reported that the abuse had positively affected and strengthened the mother-child relationship. One of the aims of this study is to increase awareness about the effects of domestic violence on the mother-child bond since not much research has been dedicated to such an issue. Moreover, another aim of this research is to encourage social work agencies to forward services, which target the mother and child simultaneously. Description: B.A.(HONS)SOC.WORK 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/122765 Title: Caregivers' commitment and possible burden relieving measures Abstract: Care giving towards elderly relatives might be seen as compassionate care. However, in the long run of the experience, carers of elderly relatives very often realise that the caring experience sometimes has its' thorns as well. Thus, the study explored what factors contribute towards hindering or facilitating the caring experience with elderly relatives. Undoubtedly, many factors contribute towards hindering and facilitating care giving. However, characteristics of carers, the burden encountered as well as positive factors, such as satisfaction, are three of the strongest pillars which bring out contributing factors which hinder or/and facilitate the caring role. For the data analysis the researcher carried out a structured questionnaire with primary carers of elderly relatives. This brought clear issues about which elements hinder or/ and facilitates care giving with elderly relatives. Although particular characteristical differences emerged, hindering factors towards care giving with elderly relatives seem to be more prevalent than facilitating factors. This suggests that though care giving with elderly relatives seems to be an easy task in reality it can be a tough experience. Finally, the researcher analysed the outcomes in the light of existing literature about the role of carers of elderly relatives. Ultimately the researcher proposed suggestions for further studies in this area of care giving with elderly relatives. Description: B.A.(HONS)SOC.WORK 2003-01-01T00:00:00Z