Health-Related Quality of Life and Behavior of Triplets at Adolescent Age

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and behavior of triplets compared with matched singletons at adolescent age and to identify medical and sociodemographic predictors of outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty-four triplets (19 sets, mean [SD] gestational age 32.0 [2.4] weeks, birth weight 1580 [450] g) and 51 gestational age-, birth weight-, and sex-matched singleton controls self-rated their HRQoL at age 14.5 (0.3) years. Proxy reports about HRQoL and behavior were obtained by parents and teachers. HRQoL was measured with the Kidscreen-52 questionnaire child and parent form, and behavior with the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist. RESULTS: Self-and parentreported HRQoL values was similar in both groups except for the dimensions "mood and emotions" and "autonomy," which were better (P = .001, P = .03) in triplets. Parents reported significantly less behavioral problems in triplets compared with controls. Compared with community norms, both HRQoL and behavior measures in triplets were in the normal range. Parent-reported HRQoL was predicted by dichorionicity. CONCLUSIONS: HRQoL and behavioral outcome in adolescent triplets was good in our study and was, in some aspects, better than in matched singleton controls. Dichorionicity is an important outcome determinant.

Neurodevelopmental outcome, psychological adjustment, and quality of life in adolescents with congenital heart disease

“…Self‐reported HRQoL tended to be better than parent‐rated HRQoL. This phenomenon has been observed in children with CHD and other populations and reflects the different perspectives of participants and their parents, which need to be valued independently. Goldbeck and Melches found significant interaction effects between parental QoL and parental proxy reports of their children's QoL, especially in families affected by social stress .…”

Qualitative Investigation into Pre- and Post-Natal Experience of Parents of Triplets

“…It was also noted that difficulties in maternal adjustment, experienced by mothers of triplets, began to decrease as the children reached five years of age. Research on the development of triplets, during adolescence, found that parents reported significantly less behavioural problems in triplets compared with the families of singletons (Natalucci et al, 2012 ). Furthermore, a triplet child will typically spend as much time with their siblings as they spend with the main caregiver (Feldman & Eidelman, 2004 ) and triplets often develop a strong lifelong bond (Twins Trust, 2021 ).…”