https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/123273 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:32:22 GMT 2026-03-11T10:32:22Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/132791 Title: Youth transitions of tertiary education students in Malta : a narrative inquiry Abstract: This study is an empirical investigation of negotiation of youth transitions of tertiary education students in Malta. It starts with an articulation of the changing concepts and metaphors used to explore how, in the last decades, the journey to adulthood has become extended, less sequential, delayed or postponed. While extensive literature on school-to-work transitions and on young people who are not in employment, education or training exist, research regarding young people in tertiary education has been neglected. The study aims to fill this lacuna and addresses how transitions of Maltese young people in tertiary education extend from the past to the present and into the future; how the personal and the social interact in the negotiation of these transitions; and how transitions are situated in the Maltese context. Taking a qualitative longitudinal approach, the research uses narrative inquiry to examine the stories of eight young men and eight young women who were interviewed three times over a period of four years. Three main themes emerged: continuity and change; the construction of identities through relationships; and the landscape of transitions of the Maltese islands. The study proposes a typology of young people transitioning through tertiary education in Malta: ‘traditionalists’; ‘pioneers’; ‘opportunists’; and ‘radicals’. The findings show that these four ideal-types are not static. The study thus makes a contribution to the evolving theory on youth transitions in Malta and beyond and concludes with some recommendations for further research. Description: Ph.D.(Melit.) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/132791 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/125629 Title: The motivations and experiences of volunteers in Maltese football clubs’ administration Abstract: Volunteerism in sports, particularly within football clubs, is a vital but often undervalued aspect of community engagement. Despite its economic significance (Bang, 2015) and social impact (Uphoff et al., 2013), research in this area remains limited, particularly in the context of Maltese football clubs. In fact, according to Azzopardi et al. (2022), sports entities make up the majority of registered voluntary organizations in Malta. This study aims to qualitatively explore volunteers' experiences in Malta's local football clubs, identifying motivations, benefits, challenges, and community contributions associated with volunteering. According to semi-structured interviews with participants in this study, volunteers are primarily driven by feelings of community connection and a strong passion for the club. Volunteers, motivated by a sense of community and passion for their clubs, fulfill various roles, including administration, technical support, and social media management. Financially, volunteers significantly reduce costs for clubs, allowing resources to be allocated to essential aspects like player wages and transfers. While volunteering offers numerous benefits, including social capital formation, career development, and personal fulfilment, volunteers also face challenges such as time constraints, limited resources, and feelings of undervaluation. Despite these challenges, volunteers play a crucial role in fostering community engagement and social cohesion within the local football community. Recommendations for policy and practice include recognising and appreciating volunteers, prioritising their well-being, offering training and development opportunities, and ensuring access to adequate resources. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/125629 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/125627 Title: What are the experiences of female siblings of persons with disability? Abstract: Over the past decades, the disability field has flourished with more attention, awareness and research on the subject. Despite this, the focus has always been the person with disability, and at times their parents. The siblings of persons with disability remain invisible. The importance of the siblings of persons with disability is greatly disregarded, despite siblings being the people who accompany the person with disability throughout their entire life. This project intends to look at the lived experience of female siblings of persons with disability, in order to examine whether the gender of the siblings had an impact on the level of expected caregiving duties towards their disabled sibling. The discussion will focus on the experience of living with a sibling who has a disability, life choices and the impact of their sibling’s disability on their family experience, their present lives and their future. Grigoryeva (2017) described female caregiving roles to be the natural unpaid duties expected to be taken on by the women in the family whenever this is required. Lee et al (2019) claims female siblings are most likely to take over caregiving roles from their mothers. Parents’ expectations will also be explored, together with societal influence and expectations. Davys et al (2010) mentioned that societal influences across cultures put expectations on families, with prevalence women, to take on the care of their family members in need. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) has been used as the methodological framework. Interviews with eight female siblings of persons with disability were held. Due to the pandemic, interviewees were given the choice between face-to-face interviews or online interviews. Following discussions of their experiences of living with their disabled siblings, and the impact of the disability on various aspects of their lives, the discussion followed up with the required service developments to deliver the real needs of siblings of persons with disability will be discussed, including the benefits of support groups. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/125627 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/125625 Title: Community support and influence on the resilience of families passing through trauma Abstract: This qualitative study aimed to understand whether community support was considered significant for families who experienced trauma. The inquiry also sought to find out whether these families acquired resilience as a result of the support received. The sample included eight adult participants living in Malta, who faced adversity. These recounted their experiences through semi-structured interviews. Results showed that the participants received community support, which positively influenced their familial resilience. In general, they valued community support, which varied according to the trauma they passed through. The community support acted as a coping mechanism for the whole family. The data included details on the self-transformative journey they experienced because of the trauma. Themes that elicited commonalities and differences among the informants were generated through Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006; Clarke & Braun, 2013; Braun & Clarke, 2014; Braun & Clarke, 2019; Braun & Clarke, 2021a; Braun & Clarke 2021b). The theoretical framework draws on Garmezy’s theory of resilience (1991a, 1991b, 1993). It was employed to analyse the interplay between the personal, familial, and communitarian aspects of support, and to interpret the informants’ diverse experiences. The discussion was developed through a multi-perspective approach that distinguished between what was considered supportive by the participants and what was not. The study provides implications for strengths-based and trauma-informed recommendations for community interventions, aimed at supporting families who are passing through trauma. It calls for the implementation of strategies that foster community action and development. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/125625 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z