The relationship between ego states and love attitudes in single young adults

This study determined if associations exist between Transactional Analysis Ego States (Critical Parent, Nurturing Parent, Adult, Free Child, and Adapted Child) and the three primary love attitudes (Eros, Ludus, and Storge). It further determined if males and females differ significantly in these associations.The sample of 184 subjects (93 females and 91 males) were enrolled in EPS 101 (Academic and Personal Development) at Northern Arizona University. All subjects were single and between the ages of 18 and 22 years old. The Love Attitude Scale and Transactional Analysis subscales of the Adjectives Checklist were administered. The subjects were categorized in each variable based on their scores.All statistical analyses involved the use of the Pearson's chi-square and Standardized Residuals. A significant association was not discovered between love attitude and ego states. A significant gender difference was found and the contributing cells were Free Child/Eros for both males and females.A post hoc analysis was performed to further compare males and females on each love attitude and ego state. A significant difference was not found between the genders on love attitudes. However, the genders did differ significantly on ego state. The contributing ego states were Adult and Free Child. The observed frequencies for females on Adult and Free Child were lower than expected and higher than expected on Nurturing Parent. Males were lower on Nurturing Parent than expected, and higher on Adult and Free Child.Another post hoc analysis was performed to determine if the extreme distribution differences observed on both love attitude and ego state were significant. The results regarding love attitudes indicated that Eros and Ludus were major contributors to the significant difference found between love attitude frequencies. The observed frequency of Eros was significantly greater than expected while Ludus was significantly less than expected.The post hoc results pertaining to ego states indicated that Nurturing Parent, Adult, and Free Child were major contributors to the significant difference found between the Expected and Observed frequencies of the ego states. Nurturing Parent was significantly greater than expected. Adult and Free Child were significantly less than expected.