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The relationship between food refusal and social skills in persons with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- MATSON Johnny L., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 31(1), March 2006, pp.47-52.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Feeding problems are common among individuals with intellectual disabilities. The aim of the current study was to determine the relationship between food refusal and social skills in people with intellectual disability. The Screening Tool of Feeding Problems (STEP) was administered to all residents of a large developmental centre. This screening tool identified 82 residents who exhibited food refusal, and 81 residents who did not exhibit food refusal. The Matson Evaluation of Social Skills in Persons with Severe Retardation (MESSIER) was administered to the 163 participants. People who exhibited food refusal displayed significantly more negative nonverbal and general negative social skills when compared to controls. Food refusal was prevalent across all ages, genders, and levels of intellectual disability. As social skill deficits are associated with deficits in feeding skills, social skills training should be considered as a major component of behavioural interventions targeting food refusal in people with intellectual disability.
A validity study of the Screening Tool of Feeding Problems (STEP)
- Authors:
- KUHN David E., MATSON Johnny L.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 27(3), September 2002, pp.161-167.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The Screening Tool of Feeding Problems (STEP) was developed as a means to identify feeding problems presented by persons with an intellectual disability, for diagnosis, treatment and evaluating treatment outcome. Rarely is assessment comprehensive and often problems are not identified until they are severe. Items for the scale were developed to target feeding problems identified in the literature in the areas of risk of aspiration, food selectivity, feeding skills deficits, food refusal and associated behaviour problems, and nutrition related behavior problems. The current study examines the validity of the STEP as a means to identify feeding problems.