Correlates of Negative and Positive Mood State in Mothers of Twins

Relationships between parenting distress, social support, and sense of competence and negative and positive maternal mood were assessed in 162 mothers with twins younger than 2 years. Women with lower satisfaction scores on the sense of competence scale reported higher negative mood (adjusted R2 = 21.7%, p < .001). Women with lower parenting distress and higher efficacy scores on the sense of competence scale reported higher positive mood (adjusted R2 = 39.4%, p < .001). Neither instrumental nor subjective social support contributed to variance in maternal mood. Interventions should be aimed at decreasing parenting distress and increasing sense of competence for mothers of twins.