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□ KoPHWA conducted its 1st Twin Parenting Empathy Campaign in 2025, targeting families with twins (parents of twins during pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing), and has announced the results of the survey.

[ Survey Overview ]

○ Survey Target: Parents of twins during pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing

○ Survey Period: May 23, 2025 – June 11, 2025

○ Survey Topic: Self-assessment of depression in parents of twins(Parents of twins during pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing)

○ Survey Method: Online survey (via Naver Forms)

○ Number of Respondents: 459 participants

○ According to the "2024 Perinatal Care Survey" published by the MOHW earlier this year, 68.5% of 3,127 mothers who gave birth in 2023 experienced perinatal depression.

- This is a 15.9%p increase compared to the 2021 survey results. The risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth is higher in mothers carrying twins due to complications associated with abnormal fetal growth in the uterus, which leads to significantly higher physical and mental stress compared to mothers carrying singletons.

○ The “1st Twin Parenting Empathy Campaign" aimed to understand the emotional and psychological challenges faced by parents of twins during pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing by conducting depression self-assessments. The assessment tools commonly used by the Korea Counseling Center for Fertility and Depression were used.

[ Key Findings ]

○ Self-assessment Results for Pregnant Women with Twins

- Normal: 79.6%, Mild Depression: 9.3%, Major Depression: 2.8%, Severe Depression: 8.3%

○ Self-assessment Results for Perinatal Mothers with Twins (within 12 weeks after childbirth)

- Normal: 60.5%, Mild Depression: 9.3%, Major Depression: 0%, Severe Depression: 30.2%

- Notably, the incidence of severe depression after childbirth (30.2%) was approximately three times higher than during pregnancy (8.3%).

○ Self-assessment Results for Mothers Raising Twins

- Normal: 44.9%, Mild Symptoms of Depression: 27.3%, Mild Depression: 11.5%, Moderate Depression: 6.6%, Severe Depression: 9.7%

- The depression rate for parents raising twins (38.8%) was significantly higher compared to pregnant women (9.3%), indicating that the emotional burden increases during the child-rearing stage.

○ Self-assessment Results for Fathers Raising Twins

- Normal: 62.3%, Mild Symptoms of Depression: 26%, Mild Depression: 9.1%, Moderate Depression: 0%, Severe Depression: 2.6%

- The depression rate for mothers (35.1%) was higher compared to fathers.

□ President Lee Sam-sik stated, “The results of this survey clearly indicate the urgent need for psychological and emotional support for parents of twins during pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing. KoPHWA will continue its efforts in collaboration with organizations within the 'Twin Family Happiness Network' to alleviate the parenting burden of twin families.”

○ Since 2023, KoPHWA has been providing information on twin pregnancies and parenting through the "Dadong-i Link" blog, offering parenting education and empathy campaigns for parents of twins.

- KoPHWA launched the "Twin Family Happiness Network" in November 2024, working alongside six specialized institutions (in areas such as childcare, care & psychological counseling, research, public relations, legislation, and information provision) to reduce the parenting burden and improve the quality of life for twin families.

□ The Korea Institute for Healthy Family, a participant in the "Twin Family Happiness Network," remarked, “We have noticed a significant increase in severe depression among mothers during pregnancy and mild depression among parents raising twins, confirming that the burden of twin parenting is substantial. We will actively cooperate in offering childcare services as well as connecting family center and counseling support to alleviate this burden.”

Latest Updates

KoPHWA Announces Results of the “1st Twin Parenting Empathy Campaign" Survey