Abstract
Increased medically assisted reproduction (MAR) use to treat infertility 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 hostility). Nested ANCOVAs indicate that while mothers exhibit similar interactional behaviors toward twins and singletons, fathers have less optimum behaviors toward twins relative to singletons. Twins displayed less engaged behavior with mothers and fathers relative 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.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 997-1011 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Family process |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2017 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2016 Family Process Institute
Keywords
- Medically Assisted Reproduction
- Parent–Child Relationships
- Twins