https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/36308 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:31:17 GMT 2026-04-10T18:31:17Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/99164 Title: Sex work in Malta : implications for policy development Abstract: This research examined the current nature of prostitution / sex work in Malta, and the different forms it may take. It also delved into the different aspects of the legal framework presently regulating prostitution in Malta, in comparison to other models existing in European, Commonwealth, and other countries. Importance was also given to the possibility of any legal changes envisaged for Malta and how these would impact the lives of prostitutes already working in the field, as well as the effects it would have on the wider society. This study adopted a qualitative research approach, and the data gathered was analysed through thematic analyses. Elite interviews were also carried out with various stakeholders working in the field. These include members of the judiciary, legal practitioners, executive and legislative officials, NGOs, as well as a former sex worker. All participants included in the study presented their insights based on their role in the field. Findings revealed the need for improved laws in relation to prostitution. Participants’ views ranged from mere regulations, to the criminalisation of the buyer, to total legalisation. Nonetheless, all parties involved stressed the necessity of having a support system available to assist and encourage victims of exploitation who would like to desist. Others expressed their belief that there are individuals who are into prostitution voluntarily and have now become to regard it as their career choice, stressing the need for the introduction of social welfare benefits for the sex workers. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/99164 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/99163 Title: The psychological and emotional pain of the hungry ghost : an addiction practitioners’ perspective Abstract: Addiction, as a concept, takes many forms and behaviors such as; work, internet and social media, sex, gambling and shopping, to mention a few. This study focused on illicit drug addiction from a psychological perspective, investigating the psychological and emotional causes of illicit drug addiction, principally, painful experiences in childhood. It looked into various psychological theories, particularly attachment theory, focusing on the concept of the ‘hungry ghost’ drawing from the philosophy of Buddhism. This theory explains how the insatiability, disconnectedness and dislocation from self and society resulting from negative childhood experiences may lead to drug use. The aim of the study was to explore whether lack of attachment and bonding, trauma, abuse and other negative experiences in childhood, may result in the onset of illicit drug use and abuse. It also examined the processes which help addicts in remission to remain clean and resilient as well as preventing relapse. These themes were explored from the perception of experienced practitioners working in the field of addiction. A qualitative approach was selected to undertake this small-scale study, consisting of semistructured, in-depth, face to face interviews with two psychologists, two community workers, two social/youth workers and two probation officers, working in different areas of illicit drug addiction. This research study revealed that psychological and emotional pain, resulting from past childhood traumatic experiences, is one of the primary causes of illicit drug addiction. Poor attachment and social bonding, familial dysfunction, as well as peer pressure and other high risk socio-economic environments constitute a risk for drug addiction. Ultimately, the research showed that with the assistance of qualified practitioners, the drug addicts may become aware, reflect and come to terms with the unresolved traumatic experiences they had in their childhood and learn the necessary skills to become resilient. In doing so, when they eventually go back into the community, they establish a healthy social support system based on trust and consistency and maintenance, that foster and maintain the resilience skills required to remain clean and prevent relapse. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/99163 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/87470 Title: Gay men of the 70s : a biographical study Abstract: This dissertation is an analytical assessment of the abrogation of A220 of the Criminal code in 1973. This lead to the removal of the unnatural act (sodomy) from the Maltese criminal code. The main reason for its removal was medical since until then, homosexuality was still considered a mental illness. Six men agreed to share their experiences of their life in the 1970s – a time when they were youths in their 20s and 30s – a time when for most gay men, secrecy was paramount, conversation little and the sex rampant, anonymous and easily available. The explorations into the legal cases and newspapers and upon deeper reflection on their narratives of social life, religious life and private sex lives offers us a glimpse into the lives of these young men and 1970s Malta. Description: B.A.(HONS)YOUTH&COMM.STUD. Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/87470 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/73706 Title: Social support of undocumented immigrants in Malta : adaptive transfer of good practices to a challenging context Abstract: The aim of this research is to identify and examine good practices in the social support of undocumented immigrants exercised during integration, while exploring how these were and could be adapted to the Maltese context. The study adopted critical realism as a paradigm, with the focus being on structure and agency. Structure mainly points to local authorities and organisations that are active in the fields of social support. Agency refers to service providers, but also immigrants who choose to adapt to these contextual features. To better understand context and adaptations, the author took Dr Charles Pace’s Adaptive Remodelling for Congruence framework in order to investigate the service provider and user worlds. For the former we analysed country policies, the organisations and their service designs, including face-to-face practices. For the latter, we determined immigrants’ culture, their living settings and patterns, and family or friends. The identification of contextual features is crucial in the addressing of mismatches or gaps by means of context-sensitive-adaptations. To check if our adaptations could be considered good practices, they were analysed against Prof Charles Watters’ Six Dimensions of Good Practice Criteria, namely access and entitlement, users’ participation, holistic practices, interagency collaboration, cultural sensitivity and evaluation. To further understand the application of these concepts of adaptation and good practice, the author carried out two visits to good practice centres in Italy, with these thus serving as case studies. The study used a mixed method research approach, as it was considered the most appropriate to explore these phenomena. The primary data was collected in two phases. First, one-to-one meetings with service providers, and secondly, sessions with immigrants that took the form of focus/interview groups. The samples consisted, respectively, of 13 service providers and 15 immigrants, familiar with the fields of social support. The service providers first answered statements in a closed-ended manner, within a quantitative approach. In its qualitative aspect, the rating scale also allowed for open-ended questions that probed for richer data, thus expanding the closed-ended answers through open-ended comments. Moreover, to further dig beneath the surface, immigrants were interviewed in three groups by means of a semi-structured interview guide. Both the rating scale and interview guide were constructed by the author, by merging the frameworks of Pace and Watters. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out for quantitative data, whilst the qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. The aspects under review are relatively new in Malta, particularly how service designs adapted to the social support of undocumented immigrants during the integration process. This research contributed to knowledge by focusing on how service providers, coming from both public mainstream services and migrant-specialised organisations, adapted or could adapt their service designs to help immigrants during the integration process, despite a context that was considered new and challenging. Nevertheless, immigrants proved to be agents of adaptation in their own right, choosing to adapt either as a response to structural inadequacies or to meet their own needs during integration. Research participants and the author gave their recommendations to further help and support immigrants particularly during their passage from segregation to integration and inclusion. Description: PH.D.SOCIAL WELLBEING STUD. Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/73706 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z