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Uncovering beliefs embedded in the culture and its implications for practice: the case of Maltese married couples

2005; Wiley; Volume: 27; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1467-6427.2005.00296.x

1467-6427

Angela Abela, Stephen Frosh, Emilia Dowling,

Marriage and Sexual Relationships

Journal of Family TherapyVolume 27, Issue 1 p. 3-23 Free Access Uncovering beliefs embedded in the culture and its implications for practice: the case of Maltese married couples Angela Abela, Angela Abela a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Malta, Msida, Malta. E-mail: [email protected]bProfessor of Psychology, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK.cConsultant Clinical Psychologist, Tavistock Clinic. Visiting Professor, School of Psychology, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK.Search for more papers by this author a Stephen Frosh, Stephen Frosh a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Malta, Msida, Malta. E-mail: [email protected]bProfessor of Psychology, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK.cConsultant Clinical Psychologist, Tavistock Clinic. Visiting Professor, School of Psychology, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK.Search for more papers by this author b Emilia Dowling, Emilia Dowling a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Malta, Msida, Malta. E-mail: [email protected]bProfessor of Psychology, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK.cConsultant Clinical Psychologist, Tavistock Clinic. Visiting Professor, School of Psychology, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK.Search for more papers by this author c Angela Abela, Angela Abela a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Malta, Msida, Malta. E-mail: [email protected]bProfessor of Psychology, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK.cConsultant Clinical Psychologist, Tavistock Clinic. Visiting Professor, School of Psychology, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK.Search for more papers by this author a Stephen Frosh, Stephen Frosh a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Malta, Msida, Malta. E-mail: [email protected]bProfessor of Psychology, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK.cConsultant Clinical Psychologist, Tavistock Clinic. Visiting Professor, School of Psychology, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK.Search for more papers by this author b Emilia Dowling, Emilia Dowling a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Malta, Msida, Malta. E-mail: [email protected]bProfessor of Psychology, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK.cConsultant Clinical Psychologist, Tavistock Clinic. Visiting Professor, School of Psychology, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK.Search for more papers by this author c First published: 25 January 2005 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6427.2005.00296.xCitations: 13AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract Given the low incidence of marriage breakdown in Malta, this study investigates the level of marital satisfaction among Maltese couples and how they manage conflict between them. One particular interest in conducting this study has been that of exploring how cultural beliefs shape marital relationships and to what extent Maltese clinicians can rely on the Anglo-American literature in their clinical work with married couples. Three hundred and fifty-four randomly selected couples answered a self-administered questionnaire simultaneously and separately. A number of findings, namely the influence of a child-oriented family in the level of marital satisfaction and the predominance of a constructive style of conflict resolution, differed from those we normally find in the Anglo-American literature. The study addresses the importance of taking into account the cultural context when working with couples. The implications for practice of the various beliefs embedded in the culture are highlighted. References Abela, A. (1998) Marital Conflict in Malta. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis. Birkbeck College, University of London. Abela, A., Dimech, R., Farrugia, R. and Role, J. 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