Life script option, existential life position, and differentiation of self: A test of Transactional Analysis theory

This descriptive, ex post facto study tested selected theoretical assumptions of Transactional Analysis using a convenience sample of 299 undergraduate and graduate women enrolled in a health-related major in a large urban university.;Differentiation of self was measured with the Family Systems Personality Profile. Existential life position regarding OKness of self and others was measured with the Feelings Inventory. Life script option categories were established based on the TA clinical assessment construct of open escape hatches (suicide, homicide/antisocial, going crazy) and measured with the Life Beliefs Questionnaire.;The chi square test showed the relationship between life position and script option to be significant (p =.002). The sample was categorized most often as I'm OK-You're OK. Categorization in the positive script option group predicted categorization in the positive life position group and categorization in the negative life position group predicted categorization in the negative script option groups. The predicted relationship between specific life positions and script options was not supported. The theoretical assumption of a Not OK cultural life position for women also was not supported.;With demographic variables controlled, there was a significant relationship between differentiation of self and both life position (p =.0035) and script option (p =.0012). Factor analyses of the LBQ and the FI supported the four factor life script option theoretical construct, but not the predicted four factor structure for existential life position.;Of this normal sample, 49% met criteria categorizing them in the negative life script option groups. Since script option is thought to be decisional and changeable, the findings of this study have significance for the practice of nursing at all levels of prevention.