/library/oar/handle/123456789/148497 2026-09-12T21:08:57Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/148507 Title: Studies in Social Wellbeing : volume 5 issue 2 Authors: Dibben, Andreana; Debattista, Michael Abstract: Table of contents:; - EDITORIAL: Andreana Dibben; ARTICLES:; - SUPPORT NEEDED BY EDUCATORS WORKING WITH STUDENTS WITH AUTISM IN MAINSTREAM PRIMARY SCHOOLS; Vanessa Saliba; - WIDOWHOOD IN THE THIRD AGE: EXPERIENCES OF ADVERSITY AND NEW BEGINNINGS; Sion Tabone and Marvin Formosa; - LACK OF GENDER DIVERSITY IN BUSINESS LEADERSHIP ROLES: THE DISCOURSE ON CARING AND PARENTHOOD IN ICELAND AND MALTA; Ólöf Júlíusdóttir, Anna Borg, and Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir; INTERVIEW:; - CARE FOR MARGINALISED GROUPS THROUGH RESEARCH ON ADOPTION AND SUPPORT FOR ADOPTEES: A CONVERSATION WITH HYANG EUN KIM; Cher Engerer 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/148505 Title: Editorial [Studies in Social Wellbeing : volume 5 issue 2] Authors: Dibben, Andreana Abstract: The four contributions in this issue all centre on this theme. Considered together, they address four different populations: mainstream-school educators supporting students with autism in Malta; widows and widowers navigating loss in the third age; female chief executives negotiating caregiving and career in Iceland and Malta; and adoptive families and adoptees in South Korea. Yet, they converge on a shared observation: wellbeing rarely falters purely at the level of the individual. More often, it is the systems intended to sustain people that fail, with the strain borne by individuals, families, or communities. [excerpt] 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/148503 Title: Support needed by educators working with students with autism in mainstream primary schools : the Maltese perspective Authors: Saliba, Vanessa Abstract: Inclusive education benefits both students with autism and their neurotypical peers, but the associated challenges impact educators’ wellbeing and attitudes towards inclusion, so educators must be provided with support which facilitates both their wellbeing and students’ success. In light of research showing that supporting educators eases the challenges of working with such students in mainstream schools, the current study examined the support needed by teachers, learning support educators and the senior management team working with students with autism in mainstream primary schools in Malta. All primary school educators in one college were invited to participate, and 172 accepted and completed a questionnaire. Subsequently, 19 participated in semi-structured interviews. The findings reveal that educators perceived a lack of support when working with students with autism, causing stress and burnout. They offered several suggestions regarding the support required for working more effectively in an inclusive environment, including more resources, training and support from professionals, colleagues and parents. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/148502 Title: Widowhood in the third age : experiences of adversity and new beginnings Authors: Tabone, Sion; Formosa, Marvin Abstract: This article reports upon the experiences and perspectives of widowhood among older persons in the third age whose spouse passed away to examine how this life event and transition impacts young-old persons aged 60 to 74 years. The research adopted a qualitative methodological approach to enable a subjective and interpretative investigation on the reactions and coping mechanisms of both widowers and widows. Ten participants, six widows and four widowers, aged between 70 and 75 years, participated in this study: all participants lost their spouses between 5 and 10 years prior to data collection. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analysed via thematic analysis. Three main themes emerged, namely experiencing widowhood, adaptation and adjustment, and aftermath, all having their own respective subthemes. The study reports that despite ageist attitudes stating that widowhood in old age is an ‘expected’ event, none of the participants expected this to happen to them. The difficulty of navigating the challenges, consequences, and changes that come with this life transition varied between participants. The research concludes that transitioning to the role of widow or widower is the most prominent and challenging personal change encountered upon entering widowhood. While it may bring feelings of vulnerability, it can serve as a catalyst for personal growth, reveal hidden strengths, passions, and aspirations, and also uncover personal agency, allowing them to build a new life for themselves and embrace new beginnings. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z