NEWS | Wednesday, 25 February 2009

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The Standing Committee on Social Affairs in Parliament has been told that the Maltese may need educating to make cuddles and compliments more culturally acceptable if they want to make their marriages last longer.
A study by Dr Angela Abela, a senior lecturer at the University of Malta, showed that the current attitude may be one of the causes of problems among Maltese couples.
In her meeting with the Standing Committee, Dr Abela who directs the Centre on Family Studies at the University of Malta, said that the family in Malta was in a state of transition as it was elsewhere and more studies were necessary in order to sustain the process effectively through a clear policy on the family.
Her presentation on strengthening relations within couples which was made to British MPs in the House of Commons was also discussed by the Standing Committee. Dr Abela underscored the need for education on the subject particularly among young people who need to be prepared for the challenge of the long haul.
“A committed couple cannot think only of work but must also invest in strengthening the bond of their relationship,” Dr Abela said.
While the rate of separations remains relatively low at 3.5% of marriages per year (NSO 2005), updated statistics are needed to establish trends and the present situation.
Another statistic noted at the meeting referred to the trend in marriage annulments and separations. The figures for 2007 show that the number of marriage annulments (178) was three times that of separations (63) which is reminiscent of Latin American jurisdictions such as Chile where the absence of divorce was compensated for in this way.
Edwin Vassallo, Justyne Caruana, Michael Gonzi, Joe Falzon and Jean Pierre Farrugia, the MPs who sit on the Standing Committee, were told that among the changes noted was a lower threshold for tolerance of abuse such as domestic violence.
Research also shows that the lack of shared responsibilities within the couple meant that fewer children were born and that the relationship was less happy.

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