Primary researcher: Laurie LaMonde, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist VA
Additional researchers: Maureen A. Doolan Boyle, MOST Executive Director; Kelly Ross, MD, MOST Medical Director; Elizabeth Pector, MD, FAAFP, MOST Advisory Board; Lauretta Shokler, MOST Technology Director
The MOST Post-Partum Depression (PPD) survey was conducted from
January through March of 2003 in coordination with the National Organization
of Mothers of Twins Clubs, Inc. (NOMOTC).
The survey gathered data pertaining to socio-demographic status, medical, gynecologic, and obstetric
history, pregnancy, perinatal and neonatal events were collected as
well as symptom-specific data pertaining to PPD. Specifically, the
survey included questions on 22 different symptoms of PPD, previous
experiences with depression, and treatment received.
The MOST survey recieved 587 participants and NOMOTC 758 participants. Unless
otherwise noted, the data below is from the MOST survey.
|
Number of Children |
%
of survey responses |
| 10
children |
0.17% |
| 9
children |
0.00% |
| 8
children |
0.17% |
| 7
children |
1.36% |
| 6
children |
3.92% |
| 5
children |
10.39% |
| 4
children |
32.54% |
| 3
children |
49.23% |
| less
than 3 children |
2.21% |
|
Age ranges |
%
of survey responses |
| 18-24 |
1.19% |
| 25-30 |
13.63% |
| 31-35 |
33.56% |
| 36-40 |
33.73% |
| 41-45 |
14.48% |
| 46-50 |
2.21% |
| Over
50 |
1.02% |
| Not
answered |
0.17% |
|
Employment Status during first
year after birth |
%
of survey responses |
| Other |
2.56% |
| Outside the home full time |
11.93% |
| Outside the home part time |
10.22% |
| Stay at home parent |
69.34% |
| Unemployed looking for work |
0.68% |
| Work from home full time |
1.53% |
| Work from home part time |
3.24% |
| Not answered |
0.34% |
Overall
29% of respondents indicated being depressed for more than 2 weeks
following the birth of their higher-order multiples
Respondents
who underwent fertility treatments experienced an average of 10.9
PPD symptoms.
Respondents
who did no undergo fertility treatments experienced an average of
6.47 PPD symptoms.
