Observed Mother– and Father–Child Interaction Differences in Families with Medically Assisted Reproduction‐Conceived Twins and Singletons

• Author: Martha A. Rueter,Kayla N. Anderson,Bibiana D. Koh,Jennifer J. Connor
• Date: 01 December 2017
• Published date: 01 December 2017
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12254

Observed Mother–and Father–Child Interaction

Differences in Families with Medically Assisted

Reproduction-Conceived Twins and Singletons

KAYLA N. ANDERSON*

MARTHA A. RUETER*

JENNIFER J. CONNOR

†

BIBIANA D. KOH

‡

Increased medically assisted reproduction (MAR) use to treat infertilit y has resulted in a

growing twin birth rate. Little is known about parent–child relationships for twin relative

to singleton children in middle childhood. This study fills this gap by examining parent–

child relationships in 57 families with eighty 6- to 12-year-old MAR twin and singleton

children using observational data (warm and supportive communication, control, and hos-

tility). Nested ANCOVAs indicate that while mothers exhibit similar interactional behav -

iors toward twins and singletons, fathers have less optimum behaviors toward twins

relative to singletons. Twins displayed less engaged behavior with mothers and fath ers rel-

ative to singletons. Given the vitality of parent–child relationships for family and child

adjustment, future studies should examine determinants and outcomes of twin –singleton

relationship differences to bolster twins’ and their families’ functioning.

Keywords: Twins; Parent–Child Relationships; Medically Assisted Reproduction

Fam Proc 56:997–1011, 2017

In the past 35 years, the twin birth rate has risen from 1% to 3.41% of all births and is

projected to continue growing (ASRM, 2012). Despite the increasing number of families

raising twins, little is known about parenting twins. Some research shows lower quality

parent–twin relationships compared with parent–singleton relationships in early child-

hood, but there is scarce information about parent–child relationships for twins versus

singletons once children reach middle childhood (e.g., past age 5). Twin family research

also predominantly focuses on mother–child relationships, despite evidence indicating

fathers play important roles in children’s development (Lamb & Lewis, 2013). This study

uses observational data comparing parent–child interactions between 6- and 12-year-old

*Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota –Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN.

†

Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School - Twin

Cities, Minneapolis, MN.

‡

Department of Social Work, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Kayla N. Anderson, Department of Fam-

ily Social Science, University of Minnesota, 290 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108.

E-mail: and02584@umn.edu.

This research is based on a collaborative research effort supported by the University of Minnesota Agri-

culture Experiment Station Project Number MN-52-107, the University of Minnesota Grant-in-Aid of

Research, Artistry and Scholarship Grant, the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human

Development Research Development Investment Grant, the David H. and Karen Olson Marriage and

Family Fellowship, and the University of Minnesota Eva O. Miller Endowed Fellowship.

997

Family Process, Vol. 56, No. 4, 2017 ©2016 Family Process Institute

doi: 10.1111/famp.12254