[Anxiety and associated factors in mothers of twins or triplets as compared with mothers of singleton children].

Purpose: The purpose of this survey was to study anxiety and associated factors in the mothers of twins or triplets as compared with the mothers of singleton children.
Methods: The subjects were 130 mothers of twins or triplets aged 3 or under and 860 mothers of similarly aged singleton children. The Japanese version of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to evaluate their anxiety states.
Results: 1. Mothers of twins or triplets showed significantly higher STAI state anxiety scores than those of singleton children. However, there was no significant difference in STAI trait anxiety between mothers with twins or triplets and those with singleton children. 2. Mothers of twins or triplets showed greater anxiety during pregnancy than those of singleton children. There were also higher rates of cases where stress could not be alleviated in mothers of twins or triplets than in those with singleton children. STAI state anxiety of mothers was associated with anxiety during pregnancy, anxiety for future child-rearing, problems with stress alleviation, maternal health conditions, poor sleeping conditions and having siblings.
Conclusion: This study indicated a tendency for mothers of twins or triplets to show greater anxiety as compared with those having singleton children. It is important to improve the child-rearing environment to reduce anxiety felt by mothers of twins or triplets.