EFTA Research Café: « We’re doing well » Stories of resilience by blended families in Malta

with Angela Abela

Chairperson: Nevena Calovska

In this presentation, I will be sharing with you a study which I carried out in Malta with 3 other colleagues (Suzanne Piscopo, Sue Vella, Allison Zammit Said) exploring key turning points in family life among 26 family members living in stepfamilies.  Only families who see themselves as  “doing well” were interviewed to put the focus on what works among blended families. During the presentation, mothers, their children, biological fathers and stepfathers recount their stories as they go through the good moments in their family life, but also other moments when they get stuck. The various family members will throw a light on the processes that helped them bounce back, including the support they sought from therapists and how they found this reflective space to be safe and helpful. By addressing this research gap, the study offers valuable insights into effective ways of working with stepfamilies within the field of family therapy.

Professor Angela Abela is a clinical psychologist, family therapist, and clinical supervisor. She played a pioneering role in establishing the Centre for Family Studies at the University of Malta, which later evolved into the Department of Child and Family Studies, where she currently serves as a resident academic.
She was the main proposer for the Master’s in Family Therapy at the University of Malta and led the creation of the Maltese Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice (MAFT-SP).  She recently served as its President for two consecutive terms. A former Chair of the National Family Commission, she now acts as the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Positive Parenting and the Strengthening of Families. This committee has overseen the implementation of Malta’s Positive Parenting Strategy (2016–2024), for which she is the principal author. Professor Abela also serves on the Board of Directors of the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society.
Internationally, Professor Abela has worked extensively as an expert for the Council of Europe in the area of children and families. She has published widely in the field of family studies, with research focused on raising awareness and informing policy to enhance the wellbeing of children and families in Malta. Her work spans diverse topics, including couple relationships, children in care, families experiencing poverty, perinatal mental health, and blended families.
She is a former Associate Editor of Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry (SAGE) and currently serves as an International Advisory Editor for Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal (Springer Science). In 2022, she was awarded the European Family Therapy Association Award in recognition.

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