Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community

Community, Livability and Wellbeing in Malta

Key words: Malta; Wellbeing; Livability, Sustainable, Participation, Community

The Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community (JPIC) invites the submission of abstracts for consideration in a special issue on “Community, Livability & Wellbeing in Malta.” This issue will explore related themes such as sustainability and urban regeneration, identity and gentrification, culture and community development, housing and neighbourhoods, migration, and intergenerational dynamics.

In print since 1995, JPIC provides professionals with up-to-date information on effective programs and strategies for community intervention and prevention. With a strong emphasis on mental health and human services, the journal is of interest to community researchers, healthcare and helping professionals exploring innovative approaches to service delivery and community practice, clinical supervisors, education specialists, and administrators in the human services sector. JPIC is published by Taylor & Francis.

While material prosperity remains an important dimension of quality of life, research increasingly demonstrates that its contribution to wellbeing diminishes once basic income needs are met (Easterlin, 2004). Though the definition and measurement of wellbeing is an enduring debate (Diener, 2009), significant progress has been made in understanding it and its determinants (Helliwell et al., 2023) – particularly in subjective approaches (Barrington-Leigh, 2022), and a growing number of countries have begun recalibrating policy goals toward the promotion of collective wellbeing (Frijters & Krekel, 2021). Attributing changes in wellbeing to specific policies or interventions remains a complex task (Wallace & Schmuecker, 2012), but community and livability issues, including affordable housing, neighbourhoods, gentrification, and the environment increasingly shape residents’ daily experiences (Camilleri, 2025; Briguglio et al., 2025). Community participation and local engagement remain central to understanding these issues (Azzopardi et al., 2024; Satariano, 2021).

Malta, a small island, Mediterranean and European Union member state has experienced substantial social, economic, and spatial transformations since its independence six decades ago, and in particular, in the last 15 years including rapid urbanisation, demographic shifts, and changes in the housing markets. These developments have raised important questions about quality of life and wellbeing in Maltese society, concerns with urban sprawl and deteriorated natural environment, construction accidents, dust, noise and visual pollution (Formosa & Brown, 2026; Briguglio, 2025; Pace et al., 2023). As a densely populated and highly interconnected island state, Malta provides a compelling context for examining how structural transformations influence wellbeing and everyday life.

We invite submissions presenting original empirical community-based research (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods) that examines wellbeing, life satisfaction, identity, culture, participation, neighbourhood dynamics, housing, livability, and gentrification in Malta. Contributions may explore how social, cultural, and spatial transformations—as well as policy interventions—shape residents’ quality of life, sense of belonging, and opportunities for participation in community life. Papers may also address the implications of these processes for community development, public policy, and social wellbeing.