The Editors of Studies in Social Wellbeing are pleased to announce a call for abstracts for a special issue titled: Poverty in Malta: Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities. This special issue will present articles exploring the social implications of poverty within the context of increasing wealth inequality and diminishing social cohesion, with an intention to foster inter- and transdisciplinary dialogue and amplify the voices of those with lived experiences of poverty. This special issue welcomes submissions that address poverty from normative or critical standpoints and from any discipline, with articles potentially entailing original research (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods), systematic reviews, or theoretical or methodological articles. We are particularly interested in papers that explore the lived experiences and multifaceted impacts of poverty, including how it intersects with gender, race, and disability. Submissions may also focus on a critical analysis of professional practices and policy approaches aimed at poverty alleviation. Other areas of interest include the relationship between poverty and quality of life, social exclusion, and marginalisation, as well as the stigma and discrimination faced by people experiencing poverty. We also welcome explorations of anti-poverty movements, the role of social justice, equity, and capital in addressing these challenges, the use of creative arts to understand and respond to poverty, and historical reflections on poverty in Malta. We encourage diverse perspectives from fields outside the social sector.
We especially encourage submissions that address one of the four research pillars
of PROMISE:
Abstracts of up to 250 words proposing original articles that align to the foregoing criteria will be received up to Monday 6th October 2025. These abstracts must indicate a working title, a brief introduction, a research question, the methodology
and key findings (if available).
Abstracts are to be submitted via email on ssw@um.edu.mt and michael.debattista@um.edu.mt.
Authors will be notified whether their abstract is accepted or otherwise in due course.
Articles will be accepted until Monday 13 April 2026 and can be submitted by clicking on the submission form available on the Journal’s website. Authors’ submissions will be subject to a rigorous double-blind review process by experts on the relevant subject(s). The word count for each article is between 4,000-6,000 words, excluding the reference list. Submissions should adhere to the latest American Psychological Association (APA) referencing style and be print-accessible, that is the format should be left-justified, and using any APA-acceptable font apart from Times New Roman. Please refer to the latest APA Publication Manual for detailed information. Submissions should be written in British English. Authors are to declare any conflict of interest and/or funding sources, and to provide details of ethical approval. All submissions will be processed through Turnitin.
Dr Maria Aurora Fenech - Department of Gerontology and Dementia Studies, Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University of Malta
Dr Edgar Galea Curmi - Department of Social Policy and Social Work, Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University of Malta
Prof Maria Pisani - Department of Youth and Community Studies, Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University of Malta
Prof Sue Vella – Department of Social Policy and Social Work, Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University of Malta
