Högskolan i Skövde

The aim was to explore, describe and understand experiences of twinship as told in the life stories of 35 older (70+) identical and fraternal twins, participants of the SATSA and Gender-studies in Sweden. Method: The open-ended interviews were analyzed with narrative analysis. Results: Twinship was described as relational, i.e, the relationship to the co-twin and as a negotiation between the individual and the twin identity. Three kinds of twin relationship patterns, characterized by different levels of emotional involvement were identified and labelled: nurturing, draining or superficial relationship. An attachment theoretical perspective was used in interpreting the differences in the relationship patterns. Each set of twins showed a unique balance between individualization and the twin identity which also was linked to the type of twin relationship pattern. In addition, these older twins experienced that their social environment tried to impose a twin identity upon them contradictive to their own experiences.