680 - Birth Order Differences in Perceived Child Vulnerability and Overprotective Parenting Within-Twin Pairs

Poster Number: 680
Publication Number: 680.307

Samantha J. Fox, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; Carmina Erdei, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Stephanie V. Ernst, Stichting TAPS Support, Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands; Grace C. Fitzallen, University of Tasmania, South Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

Background: Second-born twins face a greater risk for infant mortality and neonatal conditions than first-born twins. However, it remains unknown if there are parenting consequences of differential neonatal health status. Specifically, it is unclear if mothers perceive and/or parent their twins differently.

Objective: To describe maternal perceptions of child vulnerability (PCV) and overprotective parenting of 2- to 9-year-old twins, by birth order (first- and second-born); and to identify neonatal, child health, and sociodemographic factors associated with greater PCV and overprotective parenting for each twin.

Design/Methods: The sample comprised 855 biological mothers of surviving twin children between 2 and 9 years of age. Sample characteristics are shown in Tables 1 and 2. Self-reports were collected at a single time-point on the standardized Child Vulnerability Scale and Parent Protection Scale for both twins.

Results: A greater proportion of mothers were categorized as using high overprotectiveness with their second- than first-born twin (p=.005; Figure 1). Mothers were more likely to report difficulties with separation, exerting control, and less dependence on the second-born twin, compared with the first-born. Further, mothers perceived the second-born twin as more vulnerable than the first-born (p< .05). For both twins, greater overprotection was associated (p< .05) with older maternal age at birth, child chronic condition, and lower socioeconomic status at assessment. Second-birth order was further associated with child speech/language therapy (β=.076, p=.021), remedial education (β=.101, p=.001), and single parenthood at assessment (β=.066, p=.031). For both twins, higher PCV was associated (p< .05) with lower birthweight, postpartum psychopathology, child chronic condition, child speech/language therapy, ethnic majority, and single parenthood at assessment. Second-birth order was further associated with poorer neonatal health (β=.120, p=.004) and younger maternal age at birth (β=-.081, p=.024).

Conclusion(s): Findings demonstrate birth order differences in the way mothers perceive and parent their twin children. While there were consistent risk factors for PCV and overprotective parenting within twin pairs, there were additional risk factors for second-born twins. Although replication using longitudinal design is recommended, findings highlight the need for context-specific surveillance and intervention for mothers after twin birth. Further, there are research implications for conceptualizing parental outcomes after high-risk birth, accounting for within-sibling variation of multiple births.