Psychosocial resource depletion of parents of twins after assisted versus spontaneous reproduction.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of mode of conception (spontaneous versus induced) on parenting stress, psychological well-being and marital quality during the transition to parenthood among parents of twins.


METHODS
The Parenting Stress Index was assessed in 37 parents of twins conceived by assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and compared to that of 38 controls who conceived spontaneously.


RESULTS
First-time parents after assisted reproduction experienced significantly higher levels of parenting stress than parents who conceived spontaneously (89.3 vs 72.8). Primiparas following assisted reproduction score lower on psychological well-being than do controls. The two study groups did not differ in their perception of marital quality. In addition, ART primiparous mothers experience higher levels of parenting stress and lower levels of psychological well-being in comparison to primiparous mothers who conceived spontaneously.


CONCLUSIONS
The transition to parenthood following assisted reproduction is demanding for both parents of twins. In particular, first-time mothers may require qualified emotional support to facilitate adjustment to twin parenthood.
Baor
Liora
L
Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
Bar-David
Juri
J
Blickstein
Isaac
I
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014427:Twins