Couple relationships in Mediterranean Malta

Abstract

Introduction: Malta is a small archipelago nation strategically situated in the center of the Mediterranean Sea. The islands’ size renders Malta a face-to-face community where interaction with the extended family is common and anonymity is unusual. Its geographical position and history of colonization play a significant role in the way of life of its inhabitants. A tourism-based economy, a rising number of economic migrants, a growing consumeristic and pluralistic society, and a shift from a homogenous Catholic culture to a predominantly secular one are all linked to the values, attitudes, and practices of the Maltese as individuals and as partners in a couple dyad.