Postpartum Depression Risk in Parents of Twins vs. Singletons
Author Information
Author(s): Sofie Egsgaard, Mette Bliddal, Lars Christian Lund, Simone N. Vigod, Trine Munk‐Olsen
Primary Institution: University of Southern Denmark
Hypothesis
Are parents of twins at a higher risk of postpartum depression compared to parents of singletons?
Conclusion
Twin mothers have a higher risk of postpartum depression shortly after childbirth, while twin fathers show an increased risk around six months postpartum.
Supporting Evidence
- Mothers of twins have an elevated risk of postpartum depression compared to singleton mothers.
- The risk for twin fathers is slightly elevated around 6 months postpartum.
- Postpartum depression was defined as either a depression diagnosis or a redeemed antidepressant prescription.
Takeaway
Parents of twins might feel sad or depressed more than parents of just one baby, especially right after the babies are born.
Methodology
A cohort study using Danish health registers to analyze postpartum depression in parents of twins and singletons from 1997 to 2019.
Potential Biases
Potential detection bias if twin parents are more likely to have recognized postpartum depression.
Limitations
The study may only capture moderate to severe cases of postpartum depression and could be affected by detection bias.
Participant Demographics
The study included 25,611 twin mothers and 1,257,947 singleton mothers, and 25,457 twin fathers and 1,271,646 singleton fathers.
Statistical Information
P-Value
1.28 at 2 months postpartum for mothers; 1.20 at 6 months for fathers.
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.10–1.49 for mothers at 2 months; 95% CI 1.02–1.42 for fathers at 6 months.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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