Department of Psychology

Our research

Our research

  • Acquired brain injury, addiction, adult development, aviation psychology
  • Career transitions, children and the internet, chronic illness, classical psychoanalysis, counselling psychology theory and practice, Craftivis, crime, critical psychology
  • Ethics
  • Gender
  • Health promotion, holistic education
  • Inclusion
  • Media psychology, mental health (OCD, psychosis), mental health in schools, methodology, motivation
  • Neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Pain management, personality, psychoeducational assessment, psychopathology, psychotherapy
  • Qualitative methodologies and research
  • Resilience and wellbeing in children and young people
  • Secondary trauma, social media, social psychology, suicide
  • Technostress, training and development
  • Victimisation
  • Work and wellbeing, work family balance
  • Youth

A snapshot of the various publications by the academic staff at our Department

  • Azzopardi, L.M., Camilleri, L., Sammut, F., and Cefai, C. (2018) Examining the Structural Validity of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in a Multilevel Framework. Xjenza, 6(1),16-24.
  • Castro Silva, J., Pipa, J., Breur, C., O'Donnell, M. & Cefai, C. (2018) Enhancing Teacher's Resilience through Face-to-Face Training – Insights from ENTREE project.In M. Wosnitza, F. Peixoto, S. Beltman & C. Mansfield (eds) Resilience in Education: Concepts, Contexts and Connections. NY, USA: Springer Publications.
  • Catania, G & Darmanin-Kissaun, G. (2018, November). Personality and Motivation of Clinical and Counselling Psychologists: A repertory grid study. Paper presented at Department of Psychology Conference 2018, Evidence-informed understanding and promotion of wellbeing in Malta: The contribution of Psychology, University of Malta Cottonera Resource Centre, Vittoriosa.
  • Catania, G & Darmanin-Kissaun, G. (2018, November). The repertory grid technique: A method of data collection and analysis amenable to both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Paper presented at Brown Bag Seminar organised by the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University of Malta, Msida.
  • Cefai, C (2018) Healthy Habits and Healthy Spaces: Children‟s views on their use of time and space. In W.S. Toscano & L. Rodriguez de la Vega (editors) Handbook of Leisure, Physical Activity, Sports, Recreation and Quality of Life. NY,USA: Springer Publications.
  • Cefai, C. Bartolo, P., Cavioni, V. & Downes, P. (2018). A whole school approach to Social and Emotional Education. In R. Sapra (editor) Reflections- Skills for social and Emotional Wellbeing Vol 2. Authorspress.
  • Cefai, C. Bartolo, P., Cavioni, V. & Downes, P. (2018). Strengthening Social and Emotional Education as a key curricular area across the EU. A review of the international evidence. NESET Report. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
  • Cefai, C., Arlove, A., Duca, M., Galea, N., Muscat, M. & Cavioni, V. (2018). RESCUR Surfing the Waves: An evaluation of a resilience programme in the early years. Journal of Pastoral Care in Education. DOI: 10.1080/02643944.2018.1479224.
  • Cefai, C.; Bartolo P.A.; Cavioni. V; Downes, P. (2018). Strengthening Social and Emotional Education as a core curricular area across the EU. A review of the international evidence, NESET II report. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
  • Clark, M & Cuschieri, R. (2018) Social representations of drunkenness among Maltese university students Journal of Youth Researches Vol 16, 57-58.
  • Clark, M. & De Bono, D. (2018) Secondary and tertiary desistance from high risk drug use: some insights from symbolic interactionist contributions to criminology (under review).
  • Clark, M. & Fenech, M. (2018) Non-Medical Use of Prescription Psychotropic Drugs amongst University of Malta Students Malta Journal of Health Sciences Vol 5 (1), 12-26.
  • Darmanin-Kissaun, G. & Catania, G. (2018, April). Personality and Motivations of Clinical and Counselling Psychologists: The Darker Side. Paper presented at the 32nd Congress of European Federation of Psychology Students' Associations - EFSPA, Paradise Bay, Malta.
  • Darmanin-Kissaun, G. & Catania, G. (2018, September). Same roots different branches: The study of personality by researchers from different disciplines. Paper presented at the Junior College Multidisciplinary Conference, Junior College, Msida, Malta.
  • Darmanin-Kissaun, G. (2018, May). In Two Minds: The Complex Process Of Containing Ambivalence. An Evidence-Based Approach. Paper presented at the Faculty for Social Wellbeing Annual Seminar, Verdala, Malta.
  • Naudi, M., Clark, M. & Saliba, H. (2018) Full cooperation: Zero violence barriers to help-seeking in gender-based violence against women: A research study. Malta: Ministry for European Affairs and Equality.
  • Nenadic, I. (2018) Monitoring Media Pluralism in Europe: Application of the Media Pluralism Monitor 2017 in the European Union, FYROM, Serbia & Turkey Country Report: Malta (country contributor) My journey into crochet: A process of unwinding. The Psychologist https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-31/july-2018/windows-our-inner-and-outer-worlds.
  • Scicluna, P & Clark, M. (2018) Victimisation and addiction careers of women in a Mediterranean society Journal of Forensic Practice (in press).
  • Slezackova, A., Cefai, C., & Cejkova, E. (2018). The role of life values in subjective well-being among Czech and Maltese university students. Horizons in Psychology, 27, 35-47.
  • Slezackova, A., Cefai, C., & Prosek, T. (2018). Psycho-social correlates and predictors of perceived hope across cultures: A study of Czech and Maltese contexts. In A. M. Krafft, P. Perrig-Chiello, & A. M. Walker (Eds.) Hope for a Good Life. Results of the Hope-Barometer International Research Program. (pp. 165-197). NY: Springer.
  • Peixoto, F., Wosnitza,M., Pipa, J., Morgan, M. & Cefai, C. (2018)A Multidimensional view on Pre-service Teacher Resilience in Germany, Ireland, Malta and Portugal. In M. Wosnitza, F. Peixoto, S. Beltman & C. Mansfield (eds) Resilience in Education: Concepts, Contexts and Connections. NY, USA: Springer Publication.
  • (2014-17) Project Advisor for the Cross European research project by the European Agency for Development in Special Needs and Inclusive Education on, Inclusive Pre-Primary Education'
  • (2015-18) Participated as one of three members of the three-year EU LLP Erasmus Multilateral
  • (2016-18) Participated as one of two members of the two-year EU LLP Erasmus Multilateral Project
  • (2018) European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education Project: The Changing Role of Specialist Provision in Enhancing Inclusive Education Project. (CROSP)
  • Based Violence and Violence against Women
  • Children and the Internet
  • EMPAQT Project for the development of materials for the training of teachers in addressing the challenge of Early School Leavers
  • ENRETE for the development of a European Master in Resilience programme among six countries
  • FSWS consultancy and supervision
  • Qualitative study on Violence against journalists in Council of Europe member states
  • Zero tolerance project – research on exploring the barriers women face when seeking help for Gender
  • COST Project: European Network for Research Evaluation in the Social Sciences and the Humanities
  • EU Kids Online European Project
  • Pompidou Group Council of Europe, gender

Post/s of Part-Time Research Support Officer II


Study with us

https://www.um.edu.mt/socialwellbeing/psychology/ourresearch/