Mindfulness improves theory of mind in psychosis

Impaired Theory of Mind (ToM) ability is a core feature of psychotic disorders that challenges psychosis treatment. We aimed to explore the effect of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) on ToM ability in a randomized clinical trial (RCT). A sample of 36 participants diagnosed with psychotic disorder were recruited from a community center and randomly allocated to Integrated Rehabilitation Treatment (IRT) or IRT+MBI. ToM skills were assessed through the Hinting Test and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET). IRT+MBI scored higher in RMET than IRT at posttreatment. MBI is a promising tool for improving ToM ability in psychosis.Keywords: psychotic disorders, theory of mind, mindfulness-based-interventions.

Family and community memory as a vision for the future. Ivan P. Milev – chronicler and visionary of the Bulgarian village

What society do we come from, who are its founders and what have they done to make Bulgaria exist today? An invaluable source of this information can be found in the preserved archives of Ivan P. Milev, who describes the history and customs of a Bulgarian village – Dobri Dyal. The article presents his ethnological and historical notes, which provide important information about the traditions, folk customs and rituals, as well as about the institutions established in the village – a community center, a church, a cooperative. The text also introduces the personality of Ivan Р. Milev as a visionary of the Bulgarian village in all its diversity – folklore, history and institutions. With the vision that what has been preserved as a written word serves as a gift, a treasure for the next generations, but also as a guiding light for the future and for the preservation of the Bulgarian spirit. "Dobri Dyal (cultural and historical notes)" is presented as a microcosm of the Bulgarian. Through his personal history, the author presents the struggle, the tradition, the memory, the vision for the future of an entire nation. Community memory is defined as giving strength and determining the dream future.

Design Principles for Secure and Sociable Local Community: Chizar

Sustainable development covers different environmental, social and economic dimensions. In this paper, we discuss social aspects of sustainability emphasize that a local community center should include security and sociability concepts. Therefore, the objective of the paper is finding suitable design principles that could increase these two concepts. The methodology of the article is survey and case study. The selected site is CHIZAR local community in Tehran. The paper will conclude that some design principles such as diversity in function, visibility, Attractive Street frontages and stay area increase security and sociability concepts. Keywords: Local community; Design principles; security; socialisation eISSN 2514-751X © 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by E-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer-review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ajebs.v6i18.380

Subaltern Praxis: A Vygotskian and Freirean Framework in NGO Education

This article examines the functionality and ideological underpinnings of an NGO system in Beirut, Lebanon. This grassroots NGO, in partnership with the Migrant Community Center and migrant domestic workers from African and Southeast Asian countries, creates an educational space that is both transformative and libratory. This activist space is informed by an anti-racist and feminist ideology. Based on the narratives of this system’s stakeholders, I forward a subaltern praxis, a transformative model for the development sector informed by Vygotsky’s constructivist frameworks and Freirean ideology.

The Impact of An Innovative Summer Camp for Community Older Adults

Background Healthy aging with dignity and aging in place are important concepts for most Taiwanese individuals, which can hopefully affect health policies. However, many elders have been encouraged to stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic since January 2020. Consequently, most elders limited their social participation in a previous regular activity in the community center, which undermined the strategies for healthy aging. Few studies have explored how to promote or maintain holistic health and physical fitness for community elders during the COVID-19 worldwide. Therefore, this study aimed to establish and evaluate the impact of an innovative summer camp program for older adults in the rural community. Methods A quasi-experimental pre-post-test design was used. The innovative summer camp (ISC) was based on a standardized protocol of modified Baduanjin exercise combined with three recreation breathing games. Participants were recruited from three community centers around the western coastal Yunlin County between June and August 2020. ISC program was designed and demonstrated by the research team and conducted by each community care worker for 90 minutes per day, five days per week, for 12 weeks. The paired t-test was used to measure the physical biomarkers, pulmonary lung function, and health-related fitness changes. Results Sixty-eight participants completed this study. The findings indicated that the ISC program significantly improved elderly individuals’ physiological biomarkers and health-related fitness, including reduced body weight, waistline, systolic blood pressure, and increased forced vital capacity, biceps arm flexion, sit and stand from a chair, step with a knee up in situ, and stand on one foot with eyes open. Besides wearing a facemask during the activity, almost all participants reported that they felt happy, satisfied and hoped that this program can be continued in their community center. Conclusion This pilot study supported the finding that a three-month ISC program can improve physical biomarkers and health-related fitness. The results strongly suggested that community care workers can employ the proposed ISC program as routine activity for community elders.