The Relationship Between Life Satisfaction and Functional Ego States for Elders in Nursing Homes

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between life satisfaction and functional ego states of elderly people in a nursing home. This cross-sectional study sample was composed of 126 elders living in a nursing home who were not diagnosed with dementia. Data were collected using the Introduction Form, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Ego States Scale. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and post hoc tests. The mean Satisfaction With Life Scale score of elderly participants was estimated to be 21.84 ± 5.30 (range 9–33). The possible range of scores is 5–35, with a score of 20 representing a neutral point on the scale. This result indicates that elderly people in nursing home show a higher than average level of life satisfaction. The dominant functional ego state of the participants was found to be Critical Parent (34.1%). There were significant differences in the Satisfaction With Life Scale means between groups in terms of dominant functional ego states (F = 47.304, p < 0.05). Post-hoc comparisons demonstrated that elderly people with a tendency to show more Critical Parent behaviors and communication patterns had lower levels of life satisfaction, and elderly people showing more Natural Child energy had higher levels of life satisfaction (p < 0.05). According to the research findings, the elders in Turkey have adopted a more critical stance over the years and shifted from the concerned, natural, but rational agedness defined in prior studies to a criticizing, demanding, and more rule-making agedness. Having an attitude more spontaneously and authentically like a child can increase life satisfaction in the elderly living in nursing homes. The research devoted to the functional ego states of the elderly needs to be completed with cultural analysis. Determining the dominant functional ego states of individuals while offering health care to the elderly experiencing problems in their personal and interpersonal relationships, and promoting convenient ego states, might render the care more effective and increase the life satisfaction of elderly people.