Works in Progress Seminar Series (WIPSS) - Faculty of Arts, University of Malta
Pixels and Prayers: Unpacking Catholic Identity and Digital Culture among Maltese Gen Z By Matthew Pulis
Convenors: Prof Michael Briguglio, Francois Zammit, Dr Dylan Cassar, Dr Niki Young
Date: Thursday 22 May 2025
Time: 5pm-7pm
Venue: Faculty of Arts Library, Old Humanities Building, 2nd Floor, University of Malta, Msida
https://www.facebook.com/WIPSSMalta
This study explores the psychological, spiritual, and social realities of Maltese Gen Z (MGZ) in Catholic secondary schools, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitatively, it examines: (1) how loneliness, solitude, self-esteem issues, and shyness manifest among MGZ; (2) their gaming patterns; and (3) how these relate to their ‘catholic identity’.
Among 610 MGZ participants, the typical respondent was ‘moderately lonely’, with above-average self-esteem, below-average shyness, and enjoyed solitude. The average respondent ‘gamed’ over 69 hours per school week and their player style is categorised as ‘Socialisers’. Gaming hours were positively correlated with loneliness and solitude, and negatively with self-esteem and ‘catholic identity’. Regression analysis showed that the strongest predictors of ‘catholic identity’ were Traditional Prayers, Self-Esteem, and Prayer before/after meals, with Traditional Prayers being the highest (β = 0.27).
Qualitatively, the study explored:
How MGZ self-describe their identity;
How they make sense of their lived reality; and
How they relate to God. Avatar Based and game-inspired semi-structured Interviews with 27 MGZ youths c commonly touched upon seven themes, which were grouped under the global theme: ‘Practices in a Digital Culture’, using Attride-Stirling’s (2001) thematic network analysis. These included: (i) personal challenges and growth, (ii) societal dynamics and relationships, (iii) self-descriptions, (iv) spirituality in post-secular Malta, (v) digital life, (vi) societal and environmental concerns for justice and inclusion, and (vii) future outlooks, in which participants reflected on their hopes, uncertainties, and their efforts to embrace insecurities as part of a developing identity.
The presentation will be followed by a discussion.
Rev. Matthew Pulis is a Catholic priest and has graduated with an MSc Informatics from the University of Malta and with an MA in Digital Theology from the University of Durham. He is currently reading for a PhD at the School of Religion and Theology, Faculty of the Social Sciences and Humanities, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
His practical theological research attempts to co-develop a theological reflection with the Maltese Gen Z. He is also guest lecturing with the departments of Governance and Public Policy (FEMA), Maths and Science Education (Faculty of Education), and Pastoral Theology, Liturgy and Canon Law (Faculty of Theology).
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