city / country

Msida, Malta

professional status

- Senior Health Psychologist and Health Psychology Supervisor
- Visiting Assistant Lecturer in Psychology and Psychiatry

keywords

#health psychology #child and adolescent health #paediatric psychology #chronic illness #long-term health conditions #psychological assessment #stress and health #health behaviour #family health #parenting #childhood obesity #diabetes #clinical supervision #communication skills #reflective practice

orcid

https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2877-7421

role in the project

Stephanie Savona Ventura contributes expertise in health psychology, psychological assessment and child and family wellbeing, supporting the development of psychologically informed approaches to early identification and access to care for children and adolescents.

general expertise and its relevance for the project

Stephanie Savona Ventura is a Senior Health Psychologist and Health Psychology Supervisor at Mater Dei Hospital and a Visiting Assistant Lecturer at the University of Malta. She teaches within both the Department of Psychology, Faculty for Social Wellbeing, and the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.

Her professional and academic work focuses on health psychology, psychological assessment, stress and illness, long-term health conditions and the psychological dimensions of healthcare. She has particular experience in working with children, adolescents and families affected by chronic health conditions and in providing clinical supervision in health psychology.

Her teaching at the University of Malta includes health psychology, stress, health and illness, long-term health conditions, psychological assessment, diabetes management, interpersonal communication, teamwork and reflective practice. This combination of clinical, supervisory and educational experience supports an integrated approach to children’s physical health, psychological wellbeing and access to appropriate care.

Her research has also addressed childhood nutrition and obesity, parenting practices, family influences on children’s eating behaviour and the intergenerational transmission of health-related behaviours. Within the VOICE project, she contributes health-psychology expertise relevant to the early identification of distress, communication with children and families, and the development of appropriate pathways to support and care.

positions

2021 – present
Registered Health Psychology Supervisor
Self-employed  

2014 – present
Lecturer
Faculty for Social Wellbeing and Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
University of Malta, Malta  
Teaches Health Psychology, Medical Leadership Skills, psychological assessment, stress and illness, long-term health conditions, communication, teamwork and reflective practice.  

2013 – present
Senior Health Psychologist
Mater Dei Hospital, Malta  
Specialises in pediatric and adolescent chronic illness using an integrative approach, including expressive arts techniques. Clinical interests include type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents, staff support and medical leadership.

2018 – 2021
Health Psychologist
Karl Vella Foundation (KVF), Malta  
Provided therapeutic support for children with chronically or terminally ill parents or siblings, including bereavement and grief interventions, individual therapy and expressive arts group programmes.  

2016 – 2017
Health Psychologist
Psychology Services, Directorate for Educational Services, Malta  
Provided psychological assessment and therapeutic interventions for children and adolescents, including functional assessments and individual psychological support.

2010 – 2011
Key Worker – Structured Training and Education Programme (STEP)
Inspire Foundation, Malta  
Supported children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through structured educational and developmental interventions.

education

2019 - 2026
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Paediatric Chronic Illness and Expressive Art Intervention  
Thesis: The Art of Living with Type 1 Diabetes in Adolescence: A Constructivist Grounded Theory of Psychosocial Adaptation
University of Malta, Malta

2012 – 2013
Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
Personal and Social Development (PSD)
University of Malta, Malta

2011 - 2012
Master of Science (M.Sc.), Health Psychology
Merit Dissertation:“Changes in parental control and parenting styles across three generations and their impact on children’s dietary habits in Malta”. Graded with distinction.
University of Surrey, United Kingdom
 
2006 – 2009
Bachelor's degree, Psychology, Grade: 2:1
Dissertation: So Others May Live - The Perceptions, Thoughts and Fears of Emergency First Responders in Crisis Situations.
University of Malta, Malta

five publications relevant to the proposal

Ogden J., Reynolds R., Smith A., Savona Ventura S. Body Weight, the Home Environment, and Eating Behaviour in Three Generations of Women. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. 2017.  
This publication is especially relevant because it examines how the home and family environment influence eating behaviour across generations, illustrating Stephanie’s expertise in health behaviour and family-level determinants of child health.  

Savona-Ventura C., Formosa C., Savona-Ventura S., Aboulezz D. Childhood Adiposity – Solutions for a National Epidemic. Journal of Obesity & Weight Loss Therapy. 2015. 5:257. DOI: 10.4172/2165-7904.1000257  
This article demonstrates her work on childhood obesity as a population-health challenge and on the development of preventive responses.

Savona-Ventura C., Savona-Ventura S. The Inheritance of Obesity. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 2015. 29(1):34–49. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2014.07.023  
This paper highlights her interest in intergenerational and biological influences on obesity and long-term health. 

Savona-Ventura S., Scerri C., Savona-Ventura C. Contributory Influences Promoting Childhood Adiposity in a Mediterranean Island Population. In: Childhood Obesity: Causes, Management and Challenges. New York: Nova Science Publishers; 2013. p. 63–90.  
This chapter is directly relevant to her work with children and families and examines the social, familial and environmental factors contributing to childhood adiposity in Malta.  

Savona-Ventura S., Savona-Ventura C. Factors Determining Gender Ratio in the Maltese Population. Malta Medical Journal. 2013. 25(3):19–24.  
This publication demonstrates her wider contribution to population-based health research in Malta.

complete list of publications

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