Discordant twin pairs: the relation between gestational age and neonatal temperament differences in cotwins

Temperament differences between cotwins at least 15% discordant for birth-weight were compared for a group of 66 preterm twin pairs and a group of 70 fullterm twin pairs, assessed in the neonatal period. The assessment focused on irritability, resistance to soothing, activity, reactivity, and reinforcement value. For the most part, significant differences were not obtained between discordant preterm cotwins. Previous research [10] had demonstrated that the larger fullterm twin of discordant pairs was more irritable, more difficult to soothe, more active while awake and during sleep, less reactive to visual and auditory stimuli, and less reinforcing to the examiner than the smaller cotwin. It was concluded that, for the behavioral variables measured, the fullterm group is at higher risk than the preterm group, and that both the lighter and the heavier discordant twins displayed signs of early behavioral risk. The findings suggested that the continued gestation for cotwins discordant in weight may be a risk period for early temperament development of the twins.