Due to the fact that approximately 50% of US first marriages ending in divorce, there is a growing need to identify and understand the causal mechanisms behind these separations and what effects this event has upon the family unit. This study employed secondary data analyses on the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study to identify the differences in the frequency of adverse health behaviors among fathers that are coupled with their partner and those who are divorced/separated. Trends of the fathers from the baseline survey to the five-year follow-up allowed us to observe the following: Differences in adverse health behaviors, self-reported mental health status, and the potential impact relationship dynamics have upon the family unit. A bio-behavioral marker was created to assist in identifying possible future effects of adverse health behaviors upon the family. Results show the non-married fathers participate in alcohol consumption, illegal substances, cigarette consumption and show more symptoms of depression at higher rates and more frequently than the married fathers. The non-married fathers put their children at the greatest risk of developing adverse health behaviors later in life.

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While the overall stability of personality across the lifespan has been well-documented, there is also evidence of meaningful personality change. This is particularly true when individuals are going through periods of developmental transition. Over time, one sees incremental changes not just in behavior but in basic personality as well. 1,906 early adolescents were assessed for urgency scores, levels of maladaptive behavior engagement (drinking, smoking, and binge eating), and pubertal status every six months for four years. Zero-Inflated Poisson structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the model of reciprocal influence between behavior and personality. Across most six-month intervals over the course of the four-year study, urgency predicted increased engagement in the maladaptive behaviors. Strikingly, the reverse was true as well: engagement in behaviors predicted subsequent increases in urgency, which is otherwise a stable personality trait. This study is the first to find reciprocal prediction between engagement in maladaptive, risky behaviors and endorsement of the maladaptive personality trait of urgency during the early adolescent years. One implication of these findings is the apparent presence of a positive feedback loop of risk, in which maladaptive behaviors increase high-risk personality traits, which in turn further increase the likelihood of maladaptive behaviors.

Seclusion is a behavioral management intervention used at the practicum site to manage maladaptive behaviors seen in mentally ill patients. Seclusion is not a voluntary occurrence for patients. The practice-focused question asked: Can development of an evidence-based practice (EBP) guideline help guide health care providers in the development of a multisensory room as an alternative to seclusion for people living with mental health disorders (PLWMHD)? The purpose of this DNP project was to develop the EBP guideline for a multisensory room as an alternative to seclusion for the practicum site. To aid in the development of the EBP guideline, the AGREE II model provided the framework for quality improvement related to better patient outcomes. The sources of evidence for this DNP project were drawn from the systematic review of the literature related to primary, original, and peer-reviewed journals. The electronic databases used for conducting these searches were CINAHL with Plus Full, Medline with full text, PsycINFO, SocINDEX and the Walden University library. The analytical strategy for this DNP project was to conduct a content analysis of research studies for recurrent themes, related to maladaptive behaviors, seclusion, and sensory rooms, in order to develop the draft guideline. Subsequently, 14 experts were selected for review of the resultant draft guideline using the AGREE II tool. Expert input and feedback was incorporated to achieve consensus on the final version. The potential implication for nursing practice is patient safety for a targeted population. The positive social change expected to occur for health care providers at the practicum site is the use of a best-practice tool based on evidence during their provision of care for PLWMHDs.

Practical drift is defined as the unintentional adaptation of routine behaviors from written procedure. The occurrence of practical drift can result in catastrophic disaster in high-reliability organizations (e.g. the military, emergency medicine, space exploration). Given the lack of empirical research on practical drift, this research sought to develop a better understanding by investigating ways to assess and stop the process in high-reliability organizations. An introductory literature review was conducted to investigate the variables that play a role in the occurrence of practical drift in teams. Research was guided by the input-throughput-output model of team adaptation posed by Burke, Stagl, Salas, Pierce, and Kendall (2006). It demonstrates relationships supported by the results of the literature review and the Burke and colleagues (2006) model denoting potential indicators of practical drift in teams. Research centralized on the core processes and emergent states of the adaptive cycle; namely, shared mental models, team situation awareness, and coordination. The resulting model shows the relationship of procedure—practice coupling demands misfit and maladaptive violations of procedure being mediated by shared mental models, team situation awareness, and coordination. Shared mental models also lead to team situation awareness, and both depict a mutual, positive relationship with coordination. The cycle restarts when an error caused by maladaptive violations of procedure creates a greater misfit between procedural demands and practical demands. This movement toward a theory of practical drift in teams provides a conceptual framework and testable propositions for future research to build from, giving practical avenues to predict and prevent accidents resulting from drift in high-reliability organizations. Suggestions for future research are also discussed, including possible directions to explore. By examining the relationships reflected in the new model, steps can be taken to counteract organizational failures in the process of practical drift in teams.