People Skills Research Articles

The effect of a visual arts and exercise program on communication and social skills of students with autism spectrum disorders

PurposeIndividuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) present challenges in their social and communication skills such as difficulties in developing interpersonal relationships and verbal and nonverbal communication; repetitive and restricted behaviors concerning resistance to environmental change, stereotyped movements and unusual reactions to sensory stimuli; and significant delays in motor development and performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a combined visual arts and exercise program on the communication and social behavior skills of people with ASD.Design/methodology/approachThe research was conducted in a Creative Employment Center of People with Disabilities, and the sample consisted of 18 participants with ASD divided randomly into a control group (CG) (n = 8) and an experiment group (EG) (n = 10). The Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) was used prior and after the implementation of the intervention program. EG participants attended an intervention program, whereas CG individuals followed their daily routine activities, and they only completed the SCQ prior and after the program.FindingsEG demonstrated statically significant improvements in communication skills and social behavior, compared to the results of the CG. Furthermore, participants with Asperger’s syndrome showed a higher improvement rate compared to participants with autism, while no statistically significant differences were noticed concerning gender and age of the participants.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to investigate the effect of a combined visual arts and adapted physical activity program on the social and communication skills of people with ASD.

Essentiality of Capacity Building in the Cottage Industry of Pakistan: A Synopsis of Challenges and Solutions

Capacity building is critical to the success and sustainability of cottage industries. It helps to improve the skills and knowledge of workers, increase productivity and efficiency, strengthens business practices, develop an entrepreneurial mind-set, and create a supportive business environment. Therefore, the aim of current study is to explore the relationship between capital access and cottage industry growth, to analyse the relation and importance of education and awareness with cottage industry growth and to explore the relation between technology and growth of cottage industry in Pakistan. The sample size of this quantitative study is 280 including Pakistani small entrepreneurs in Punjab. This study applied Anova test for data analysis by using SPSS. The framework shows that three factor can improve or reduce the growth of cottage industry such as education, technology, and capital access. The results of this study are in accordance with other similar studies which show that the model is feasible and the relationship exists positively and strongly between the variables selected. The government must also focus on opening more educational and training institution to improve the skills of people regarding opening cottage industries. This way, the small businesses industry will be able to absorb the problems and the lack of capital shocks. Cottage industry entrepreneurs should be given access to international markets and provisions should be made to link them with distributers and sellers.

Análisis de la cinematografía del síndrome de Down

IntroductionRare diseases represent a challenge in public health. Down syndrome is one of the most well-known rare diseases, but there are still many aspects of this condition that are unknown. With the aim of using cinema as a tool for education, awareness, and inclusion, an analysis of the representation of Down syndrome in film was carried out from a medical and social perspective. MethodologyThis study conducted a quantitative analysis of the audiovisual material available on Down syndrome in commercial and documentary cinema. Cinematographic aspects, social contexts, and symptoms related to Down syndrome were considered. 14 films were collected from 1992 to 2019. ResultsSeveral high-quality films and documentaries have been produced that show the daily challenges faced by people with Down syndrome. However, these materials are imprecise in terms of medical and genetic aspects. Instead, they focus on the social aspects of the syndrome, such as stigma, romantic and sexual relationships, parenting difficulties for parents, and the abilities and skills of people with Down syndrome. ConclusionAlthough cinema can be a useful tool to understand relevant aspects of Down syndrome, little accurate information about the medical, genetic and pharmacological aspects of the disease was found in the analyzed films. However, these films allow for learning about the social and behavioral aspects of the syndrome, which is of great value in helping to break down stereotypes and stigma associated with this disease.

Characteristics, Identification, Training, and Perception of Leaders in Respiratory Care.

Leadership is critical to high-functioning teams; however, data are lacking for what defines successful respiratory therapist (RT) leadership. Leaders need a wide range of skills to be successful, although the exact characteristics, behaviors, and accomplishments of successful RT leaders are unknown. We performed a survey of respiratory care leaders to evaluate different aspects of RT leadership. We developed a survey of RT leaders to examine respiratory care leadership in a variety of professional settings. Different aspects of leadership and the relationships between perceptions of leadership and well-being were assessed. Data analysis was descriptive. We received 124 responses, with a response rate of 37%. Respondents had a median 22 y of RT experience, and 69% were in leadership positions. The most-important skills identified for potential leaders were critical thinking (90%) and people skills (88%). Self-initiated projects (82%), intradepartmental education (71%), and precepting (63%) were noted accomplishments. Reasons for exclusion from leadership included poor work ethic (94%), dishonesty (92%), difficulty getting along with others (89%), unreliable (90%), and not being a team player (86%). Most respondents (77%) agreed American Association for Respiratory Care membership be a requirement for leadership; however, 31% required membership. Integrity (71%) was noted consistently as a characteristic of successful leaders. There was no consensus for behaviors of successful versus unsuccessful leaders or what defines successful leadership. Ninety-five percent of leaders had received some leadership training. Respondents reported that well-being is affected by leadership, departmental culture, peers, and leaders with burnout; 34% of respondents felt people with burnout received good support at their institution, whereas 61% felt maintaining well-being is left to individuals. Critical thinking and people skills were the most-important skills for potential leaders. Limited consensus existed on characteristics, behaviors, and defined success of leaders. Most respondents agreed leadership influences well-being.

Evaluation of the group intervention “Let’s Get Organized” for improving time management, organisational, and planning skills in people with mild intellectual disability

Background Limited time management skills cause problems in daily life for people with mild intellectual disability (ID) and “Let’s Get Organized” (LGO) is a promising manual-based occupational therapy group intervention aiming to support management skills. Aims/Objectives To evaluate the applicability of the Swedish version of LGO-S by i) exploring enhancements in time management skills, satisfaction with daily occupations, and aspects of executive functioning in people with time-management difficulties and mild ID, and ii) describing clinical experiences of using the LGO-S for people with mild ID. Material and methods Twenty-one adults with mild ID were included. Data were collected pre-/post-intervention and at 3- and 12-month follow-ups with: Swedish version of Assessment of Time Management Skills (ATMS-S), Satisfaction with Daily Occupation (SDO-13), and Weekly Calendar Planning Activity (WCPA-SE). There were few follow-up participants (n = 6-9). Results Significant change in time management skills that maintained at 12-months follow-ups. Significant increase in regulation of emotions at 12-month follow-up. Results at 12-months follow-up indicated sustainability in outcomes as measured by ATMS-S. A non-significant positive trend was observed in other outcomes between pre- and post-intervention. Conclusions and significance LGO-S seems applicable for improving skills in time management, organisation and planning also for people with mild ID.

From family to markets. How institutional determinants of rural youth transitions have changed in Senegal and Zambia over time

The future of rural youth employment is a major issue in sub-Saharan Africa because structural transformation is slow. However, youth employment is rarely considered in terms of institutional economics or in a long-term perspective, both of which are essential for analysing structural change. Little research has focused on employment issues and how they are affected by the type of rural areas, and especially the farming potential. This paper seeks to identify the main institutional determinants of youth transitions. We examine the assets and opportunities, internal or external to the family, available to young people. Combining a theoretical framework based on institutional economics with a comparative and historical methodology can reveal structural change in rural areas. The research draws on original longitudinal data collected in four rural areas in Senegal and Zambia in order to analyse transitions to adulthood among three successive cohorts of youth. While the majority of youth employment policies focus on improving young people's skills, the long-term analysis reveals the institutional changes regarding access to land, capital and knowledge, as well as the redistribution of value and social protection. The analysis points to the importance of taking account of structural characteristics and related institutions when addressing the challenge of employment for future cohorts of youth.

Peran Taman Bacaan Masyarakat berbasis inklusi sosial dalam mendukung tercapainya tujuan pembangunan berkelanjutan di Kabupaten Bandung

Introduction Libraries with a variety of resources and information services can support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in society. This study describes the role of social inclusion-based TBM in Bandung Regency, West Java to support SDGs.
 Data collection methods. This study was qualitative with a descriptive approach. Data analysis was started with data reduction, data display and conclusion.
 Results and Discussion. TBM contributes to build a community-based literacy ecosystem based on the community characteristics and information needs in their environment. Literacy activities at TBM may improve individual or group skills and give impacts to the community's quality of life through collborations with multiple parties. TBM is a place for consultation regarding life problems in the community by providing access to information and knowledge to support the community's productivity and welfare.
 Conclusion and suggestions. The presence of community-based TBM supports poverty alleviation efforts. Literacy programs at TBM can help improve people's life skills by giving them more empowerment, training, and mentoring. These activities have an impact on improving individual abilities and skills. TBM becomes a bridge for public libraries as information service providers and a place to find information to overcome life's problems.

Precision Teaching for maths: An academic critique

This critique briefly summarises the evolution of the Precision Teaching (PT) approach, exploring what PT is, who it can be used with and its theoretical underpinnings. The results of a systematic literature search exploring the question ‘Is Precision Teaching effective at improving maths skills in school aged children and young people?’ are then discussed.Based on the five publications reviewed, the interventions that involved PT generally showed greater performance gains than the control or comparison group. Given the highly specific conditions of these interventions however, it is not possible to generalise the intervention effects beyond these studies. It must therefore be concluded that based on these five papers, it is not possible to say whether PT is an effective way to support maths skills.The implications for professional practice suggest a need to establish an evidence base, built around formalised and structured evaluations of PT, that use a control or comparison group. It is suggested that more teachers be involved in this process rather than it being the role of academics. This would enable teachers and Educational Psychologists to speak with more certainty of the efficacy of PT at improving maths skills in school aged children and young people.

Using a virtual reality power mobility device simulator to assess the driving skills of people with brain diseases.

No previous study has explored the effectiveness of current prescription standards for evaluating power mobility device (PMD) maneuverability. To verify the current prescription standards for PMDs using a virtual reality (VR)-based PMD simulator and to present the possibility of using a VR-based PMD simulator as an alternative to current evaluation standards. A total of 52 patients with brain diseases were enrolled. All participants were over 18 years old and had gait disturbance or limited outdoor walking ability. Participants performed a driving ability test using a VR PMD simulator. The driving ability test using the VR PMD simulator indicated that cognitive impairment, measured by the K-MMSE (p = 0.017), and unilateral neglect, measured by line bisection (p = 0.031), led to reduced driving ability and safety. In addition, patients with cognitive impairment or neglect presented driving stability problems, which were observed in the driving trajectory. There was also no correlation between driving scores and MBI subitems. In patients with brain lesions, a driving ability test using a VR PMD simulator can be a safe, objective method for comprehensively evaluating a driver's capacity, offering an alternative to the current prescription standards for PMDs.

YOUTH BANKS AS AN INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR YOUTH PARTICIPATION

One of the forms of youth participation that has proved its effectiveness is represented by youthbanks, which successfully operate in different countries of the world. A youth bank is a youthorganization, which supports youth initiatives by providing financial aid for youth projects, whichare being implemented by youth in territorial communities. There are several models for organization of youth bank operations, but the major “features” that differentiate youth banks from other youth programs are that young people conduct grant competitions of youth projects by themselves as well as on their own collect funds for financial aid of projects-winners of the competition. In Ukraine youth initiative banks have been operating since 2008 and mainly organized by localcommunity foundations. The majority of youth projects, winners of grant competitions, are aimed at municipal improvement of residential areas and providing aid for socially vulnerable categories of population. Participants of a youth bank organize different charity events in order to raise funds for grant support of youth projects. Activities of youth initiative banks are aimed, first of all, at: stirring up project activities in the youthenvironment; attracting resources for youth projects; youth participation in the decision-making processes and development of local communities; training of leaders and raising a youth expert community.Promotion of youth initiative banks in Ukraine as an efficient tool for building up a socially active life stand, leadership and organizational skills of young people, requires studying of national experience and development of recommendations for organizing work of charitable youth associations

Review on Phytochemicals, Ethnobotanical and Pharmacological Activities of Psidium Guajava

Ethnoveterinary medicine include people's indigenous knowledge, skills, methods, practises, and beliefs about caring for themselves. The use of medicinal plants to cure illnesses is an established practise in underdeveloped nations where traditional medicine is used to preserve human health. Guava (Psidium guajava Linn.) is well-known for its culinary and dietary benefits all over the world. Traditional systems of medicine are also aware of the therapeutic benefits of guava fruit, leaf, and other plant components. A range of plant-derived compounds, including quercetin, guaijaverin, isoflavonoids, gallic acid, catechin, epicathechin, rutin, naringenin, kaempferol flavonoids, and galactose-specific lecithins, have demonstrated potential action. Since the guava tree has economic value in every area, it is cultivated on a large scale. Guava fruit is referred to as the "poor man's apple of the tropics" because of the biological activity and therapeutic applications of the guava plant. Parts of the guava plant are utilised to create a range of commercial and medicinal goods. The nutritional value of guava fruit and the therapeutic characteristics of its many components have been examined in this study to give a comprehensive overview of its diverse commercial values.

BRIDGEBUILDING FOR A NEW VISION OF GOVERNMENT

AbstractThe authors, who each have significant experience “improving and monitoring government,” explain their concept of “Bridgebuilders,” people who “transform governance: from hierarchy to networks, from authority to collaboration, from process to mission, and from fuzzy responsibility to a laser‐like focus on results.” They note that in order for government to be more effective and solve problems, they can’t do it alone, that “every effective solution requires the skills of people in many organizations.” They identify ten keys to solutions, which in their words are 1. Knock down barriers; 2. Seek mutual advantage; 3. Nurture private partners; 4. Build trustworthy networks; 5. Grow catalytic government; 6. Focus on outcomes; 7. Make data the language; 8. Redefine accountability; 9. Cultivate cross‐boundary leaders; 10. Make the exceptional routine. The article “focuses on nurturing private partners to help conduct the public’s business.” The authors detail the story of Alan Graham, who founded the Austin, Texas‐based nonprofit Mobile Loaves & Fishes, in 1984. This relates to strategies outlined in the article such as “Convene the important players,” “Rely on third‐party entities,” “Provide greater regulatory flexibility,” “Encourage the free flow of ideas between sectors,” and “Facilitate the cross‐sector pursuit of public purpose.”

TENDENCIES OF HIGHER EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT: EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE

This paper represents an attempt to conduct research of modern tendencies, strategies and directions of education development within the perspective of the European Union. The main aim of the research is to learn more about the policy of the European Union concerning the general development of education, forming of favorable educational environment and protecting the rights of its citizens for education and professional development. The study relies on the theoretical methods of scientific research. The main source of the analysis, generalization and description is represented by various documents, recommendations, programmes, and guidelines issued by the European Commission, the European Pillar of Social Rights, the European Educational Area, the European Research Area, the European Skills Agenda, Europe 2020. 
 In the course of the study, the works of foreign researchers have been analyzed, which helped to view the topic of interest from different perspectives. The results of the study highlight the fact that the sphere of education has undergone its major changes due to the circumstances caused by the pandemic. In Ukraine, the great number of obstacles in education has appeared due to war, which made qualitative education impossible for many Ukrainians. Because of this, it is certainly important to study foreign experience in order to develop new working schemes and models for the sake of keeping education abreast of time and being in line with students’ and teachers’ needs. In the result of the conducted research, it is found that the European Commission has managed to develop a programme to support the future of its education. The main tendencies, strategies and priorities of the European Union concerning the further development of education are represented and described. 
 Key competences and basic skills for people’s personal and professional development throughout life developed by the European Commission and EU Member States are analyzed.

Prevention of modern slavery within sex work: Study protocol of a mixed methods project looking at the role of adult services websites.

The core challenge this study addressed is that Adult Services Websites (ASWs) are an extensive and pervasive feature of the digital world that facilitate the advertising, negotiation and purchase of sexual services yet are also considered to be harbourers of sexual exploitation, modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT) Giommoni L. et al. 2021, Milivojevic S. et al. 2020, Sanders, T., et al. 2018. Whilst awareness of cases of internet facilitated MSHT has entered the public and policy domain, little is known about the role and responsibilities of ASWs in this domain. Collaboratively with our partners, the findings from this study will first contribute to understanding how ASWs facilitate exploitation and second how they can become part of the prevention mechanisms and reporters of crimes. We present the design of our mixed methods study, underpinned by a peer Action Learning Set (ALS) approach. By working closely with ten survivors of sexual exploitation from 7 countries, the peer group have informed the study through participation in the advisory group, instrument design, implementation, analysis and dissemination. A training and support needs analysis prior to engagement in the research project ascertained what skills people would bring, what they would need for further personal and career development and if there were any additional requirements to enable participation. We provided capacity building through a bespoke training package over the project's lifetime. Conducting a peer-researcher ALS project informs the research topic by both empowering survivors of sexual exploitation, whilst engaging with their expertise and lived experience to shape the methods and focus. The summative evaluation of our methods informs wider peer research methodologies, little utilised in the field of MSHT research. Thus, this research produces evidence which acknowledges survivors as experts with value towards social science research.

Philosophical worldview and pedagogical thoughts in the poetry of poet- zhiraus in Syrdarya region

The philosophical outlook and pedagogical thoughts in the poetry of poet-zhiraus of Syr region are analyzed in the article. The poet-zhiraus of Syr region also express their pedagogical views to show the right way in formation of an educated nation through their proverbs, haklia, poems-testaments.
 Each nation has its own characteristics, national character, moral norms, customs, rituals, traditions and life style. Each nation has its own culture, which has been formed over hundreds of years, it takes root in people's lives and, of course, affects people's life skills and education. The desire to educate the generation of this nation in progressive traditions and an advanced moral spirit, to introduce people’s rich customs into life, to bring up them good qualities, is legitimacy and farsightedness.
 Challenging tasks are sometimes arisenwith the development of the society, social relations, training and educational work. At each stage of the society development, new tasks are set before the family, school and other educational institutions. Finding more perfect and effective ways to influence especially young people's minds in the modern period are mentioned in the article.

The interrelationship between barriers impeding the adoption of off-site construction in developing countries: The case of Chile

Off-site construction (OSC) has been recognized for its capacity to transform the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry from a labour-intensive to a modernized and sustainable industry. OSC is growing in developed countries; however, in developing countries, there are deep barriers that do not allow for significant changes in favour of OSC adoption. To understand and overcome these challenges, many studies have identified numerous OSC barriers but mostly consider them isolated. This approach has been shown to be ineffective because several barriers interact simultaneously, and many of them are not easily visible. Therefore, this research develops a systemic approach to understanding the interrelationship of OSC barriers, doing so in the context of the AEC industry of Chile. Based on a multidimensional analysis, the current methodology consisted of (i) an extensive literature review and several discussions with experts to determine the main OSC barriers and their dimensions, (ii) impact measurement and prioritization of OSC barriers, (iii) qualitative and quantitative correlation using statistical tools, and (iv) network analysis. The research identified ten dimensions containing 74 OSC barriers. These dimensions address the areas related to cultural aspects, quality, market, finance, design and development, innovation and technology, people's skills, policies and regulations, documentation and communication, and logistics. The results suggest that the main OSC barriers are the poor leading role of the government in promoting OSC, lack of early integration of the value chain, lack of collaborative work among stakeholders, and conservatism of the AEC industry. Furthermore, the research results show that this approach rigorously identifies the interrelationship among OSC barriers, demonstrating the systemic behaviour of OSC barriers in which they enhance their impact by interacting with each other even with barriers outside their own dimensions.

Development of social skills for people with ASD through intervention with digital technologies and virtual reality (VR) tools

This analysis explores the use of virtual reality (VR) tools as an intervention to improve social skills for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The analysis aims to understand the effectiveness of VR tools in providing a safe and controlled environment for individuals with ASD to practice social skills, in comparison to traditional interventions such as role-playing and group therapy.The findings of the study suggest that VR intervention is more effective in improving social skills for individuals with ASD compared to traditional interventions. The VR intervention found to be engaging, enjoyable, and immersive for participants, and they reported feeling more confident in social situations.The analysis also discusses the practical implications of VR intervention for individuals with ASD, such as reducing the stigma associated with traditional therapy, and the potential for individualized and customizable interventions. Additionally, raises important ethical considerations such as the need for informed consent, privacy, and confidentiality when using VR tools in interventions for individuals with ASD. The objectives of this research publication are to comprehensively analyze the literature on interventions aimed at improving social skills in individuals with ASD and identify gaps in current research. Additionally, this research aims to explore the potential of digital technologies and virtual reality (VR) tools as effective and innovative methods for enhancing social skills in individuals with ASD. The publication also aims to critically evaluate the effectiveness of digital technologies and VR tools in improving social skills in individuals with ASD, based on existing empirical evidence. Further, the publication aims to provide practical recommendations for the design and implementation of digital technologies and VR interventions aimed at improving social skills in individuals with ASD. Additionally, this research publication aims to highlight the potential benefits of using digital technologies and VR tools in interventions aimed at improving social skills in individuals with ASD, including increased motivation, engagement, and generalization of skills. Furthermore, ethical considerations associated with using digital technologies and VR tools in interventions aimed at improving social skills in individuals with ASD will be discussed, including issues related to privacy, safety, and informed consent. Lastly, this research aims to identify areas for future research and development in the field of digital technologies and VR interventions for individuals with ASD, with a focus on improving social skills and overall quality of life.

Mapping language literacy at scale: a case study on Facebook

Literacy is one of the most fundamental skills for people to access and navigate today’s digital environment. This work systematically studies the language literacy skills of online populations for more than 160 countries and regions across the world, including many low-resourced countries where official literacy data are particularly sparse. Leveraging public data on Facebook, we develop a population-level literacy estimate for the online population that is based on aggregated and de-identified public posts written by adult Facebook users globally, significantly improving both the coverage and resolution of existing literacy tracking data. We found that, on Facebook, women collectively show higher language literacy than men in many countries, but substantial gaps remain in Africa and Asia. Further, our analysis reveals a considerable regional gap within a country that is associated with multiple socio-technical inequalities, suggesting an “inequality paradox” – where the online language skill disparity interacts with offline socioeconomic inequalities in complex ways. These findings have implications for global women’s empowerment and socioeconomic inequalities.

Why young people attempt suicide in India: A qualitative study of vulnerability to action

Suicidal behaviours among young people in India are a major public health problem. An understanding of the reasons for suicide attempts from survivor perspectives is essential to developing suicide prevention programs for this population, as these can provide valuable insights into concerns that are unique to young people, and direct the focus of such programs towards these specific concerns. Qualitative studies are best suited for eliciting such perspectives, but such studies in India are lacking. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 47 persons between the ages of 15 and 29 who had been admitted to a public hospital in Pune, India, following a suicide attempt. Participants were asked to describe in their own words, what they believed was the reason for the attempt. Data was analysed using inductive thematic analysis and summative content analysis. There were three broad factors that interacted to lead to suicide attempts – background factors (individual and environmental factors that increased vulnerability); psychological distress (emotional and cognitive states that led to suicidal ideation); and intervening factors (factors that facilitated transition from distress to the attempt). The most common pattern was the occurrence of an interpersonal stressor shortly before the attempt, which produced distorted cognitions, and overwhelming emotions – usually of anxiety or anger - with ready access to means and/or impulsivity being the final catalysts. This stressor was generally a trigger associated with long-standing problems involving partners or family members, which had already produced intolerable distress over time. Female participants appeared particularly vulnerable to these stressors, partly due to prevailing socio-cultural norms. Our findings suggest the need for suicide prevention programs in India to foster life skills for young people, engage with high-risk groups (for example, women), and restrict access to harmful substances. Family stakeholders need to be involved in the implementation.

Examining Nutrition Knowledge, Skills, and Eating Behaviours in People with Severe Mental Illness: A Cross-Sectional Comparison among Psychiatric Inpatients, Outpatients, and Healthy Adults

Compared to the general population, people with severe mental illness (SMI) have an increased risk of weight gain and metabolic syndrome, but also of malnutrition, in part due to unhealthy lifestyle behaviours. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify barriers to healthy eating, including nutrition knowledge and skills in people with SMI. For this purpose, we compared the means of anthropometric data such as body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and interview data on nutrition knowledge and skills, health-related variables, eating behaviours, personality, motivation, and attitudes in 65 inpatients and 67 outpatients of the Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Zurich and 64 healthy adults using ANOVA and chi-squared tests. The results showed that patients with SMI had worse nutritional status and lifestyle compared to the healthy controls, including disordered (e.g., night eating) and unhealthy (e.g., high intake of sugary foods) eating habits. However, levels of nutrition knowledge, cooking and food skills, and motivation to eat healthily were not significantly lower in the psychiatric patients than in the healthy adults and were not associated with weight change. Based on our findings, nutritional support for people with SMI is urgently needed and should include not only educational but also behavioural and long-term approaches.