Well-being of Finnish Multiple Birth Families 2009

The survey studied the well-being and financial situation of multiple birth families in Finland. Multiple birth families have one or two pairs of twins, triplets (or quadruplets etc). First, satisfaction with dwelling size, dwelling amenities and housing costs was surveyed. Further questions covered family composition (who lives in the family; ages, birth weight, gender etc of children) and the biological parents of the multiples. The respondents were asked to state for each child whether a number of statements presented were compatible with the child. The statements pertained to sleep, loneliness, satisfaction with life, communication with parents, diet, taking exercise, and obedience. Some questions focused on delivery time (time of birth in pregnancy weeks) for multiples and whether the family had encountered changes such as serious illness and death. Next theme explored work-life balance of the adults in the family. Questions covered type of job contract, working time, occupational status, and time spent away from work on parental benefits. A set of statements studied balancing work and family. The respondents were also asked whether they had been forced to do sacrifices for the sake of their family (give up education opportunities, a job etc.) or for the sake of the job (not stay home to take care of sick child, not attend a family event etc). Opinions on what family policy measures would have helped them to balance work and life were surveyed. Measures mentioned included reduced working hours, longer parental leave, flexible child day care, higher benefit levels, flexible working arrangements etc. Financial situation was charted with questions about household income, household debts, and additional costs caused by the multiples. The respondents were also asked whether the family could afford own room or a mobile phone for each child, weekly pocket-money, fee-based hobbies, visits to private doctor, a computer for children, and whether family finances had forced them to give up travel, cut down on children's hobbies, save on food etc. One question explored how much money a month the family had after paying essential living expenses. One theme pertained to couple relationship. The respondents were asked whether having multiples had had an impact on their couple relationship, what factors had put strain on or had strengthened the relationship, how often they and their partner disagreed on some matters (e.g. sex, religion, important decisions, parenthood, money, housework). Various other questions charted the state of the relationship. How well the respondents managed their everyday life was studied by asking the respondents how often they felt pain, sad, happy, anxious, balanced, and so on, and whether they had lately felt stressed and why. They were also asked what aspect of their life (work, spending time with children, couple relationship, housework, leisure time) they neglected when stressed. Views were probed on what had been the most challenging and rewarding times for the family (in relation to the age of the multiples) and why. The survey also covered the respondents' social networks for receiving practical help or advice. The first set of questions focused on people close to respondents and the second on support from public services. Reasons for seeking help from maternity clinics or child help clinics were also investigated, likewise what kind of help had been needed at what age of the multiples. Further questions charted participation in the activities of multiple birth associations, choices for and satisfaction with child day care and school arrangements. Background variables included the respondent's gender, age, marital status, occupational status and economic activity, type of neighbourhood, and housing tenure.

本调查旨在探讨芬兰多胞胎家庭的福祉与财务状况。多胞胎家庭包括一对或两对双胞胎、三胞胎（或四胞胎等）。首先，调查了居民对住宅面积、住宅设施及住房成本的满意度。进一步的问题涉及家庭构成（家庭成员是谁；儿童年龄、出生体重、性别等）以及多胞胎的亲生父母。受访者被要求就每个孩子陈述一系列陈述，判断这些陈述是否与孩子相符。这些陈述涉及睡眠、孤独感、对生活的满意度、与父母的沟通、饮食、锻炼和顺从等方面。一些问题专注于多胞胎的出生时间（怀孕周数内的出生时间）以及家庭是否遭遇重大疾病和死亡等变化。接下来，探讨了家庭成员的工作与生活平衡。问题涵盖了工作合同类型、工作时间、职业状况以及在工作时间外享受育儿福利的时间。一组陈述研究了工作与家庭的平衡。受访者还被询问是否为了家庭（放弃教育机会、工作等）或为了工作（不留在家里照顾生病的儿童、不参加家庭活动等）而做出牺牲。调查了受访者认为哪些家庭政策措施有助于他们平衡工作和生活，包括减少工作时间、延长育儿假、灵活的儿童日托、提高福利水平、灵活的工作安排等。通过关于家庭收入、家庭债务和由多胞胎引起的额外成本的问题，描绘了财务状况。受访者还被询问家庭是否能够为每个孩子提供自己的房间或手机、每周零花钱、付费兴趣班、私人医生就诊、为儿童提供电脑，以及家庭财务是否迫使他们放弃旅行、削减孩子的兴趣班费用、节省食物等。一个问题探讨了在支付基本生活费用后，家庭每月剩余多少钱。一个主题涉及夫妻关系。受访者被询问拥有多胞胎是否对其夫妻关系产生影响，哪些因素对关系施加了压力或增强了关系，他们及其伴侣在哪些问题上（例如性、宗教、重要决策、育儿、金钱、家务）经常意见不合。还调查了关系的其他方面。通过询问受访者多久感到痛苦、悲伤、快乐、焦虑、平衡等，以及他们最近是否感到压力以及原因，研究了受访者如何管理日常生活的状态。他们还被询问在压力下他们忽视了生活的哪个方面（工作、与孩子共度时光、夫妻关系、家务、休闲时间）。对家庭在多胞胎相关方面的最具有挑战性和最有回报的时刻的观点进行了探讨，并分析了原因。调查还涵盖了受访者为了获得实际帮助或建议而建立的社会网络。第一组问题集中在受访者周围的人，第二组问题集中在公共服务支持。还调查了寻求产前诊所或儿童帮助诊所帮助的原因，以及在不同年龄的多胞胎阶段需要何种类型的帮助。进一步的问题调查了参与多胞胎协会活动的程度、对儿童日托和学校安排的选择及满意度。背景变量包括受访者的性别、年龄、婚姻状况、职业状况和经济活动、邻里类型和住房使用权。