The Library
Tactile stimulation in physically healthy infants : results of a systematic review
Tools
Underdown, Angela, Barlow, Jane and Stewart-Brown, Sarah L. (2010) Tactile stimulation in physically healthy infants : results of a systematic review. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, Vol.28 (No.1). pp. 11-29. doi:10.1080/02646830903247209
Research output not available from this repository.
Request-a-Copy directly from author or use local Library Get it For Me service.
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02646830903247209
Abstract
Touch establishes powerful physical and emotional connections between infants and their caregivers, and plays an essential role in development. The objective of this systematic review was to identify published research to ascertain whether tactile stimulation is an effective intervention to support mental and physical health in physically healthy infants. Twenty-two studies of healthy infants with a median age of six months or less met our inclusion criteria. The limited evidence suggests that infant massage may have beneficial effects on sleeping and crying patterns, infants' physiological responses to stress (including reductions in serum levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine, and urinary cortisol levels), establishing circadian rhythms through an increase in the secretion of melatonin, improving interaction between mother-infant dyads in which the mother is postnatally depressed, and promoting growth and reducing illness for limited populations (i.e. infants in an orphanage where routine tactile stimulation is low). The only other evidence of a significant impact of massage on growth in infants living in families was obtained from a group of studies regarded to be at high risk of bias which we have reported separately. There is no evidence of a beneficial effect on infant temperament, attachment or cognitive development. There is, therefore, some evidence of benefits on mother-infant interaction, sleeping and crying, and on hormones influencing stress levels. In the absence of evidence of harm, these findings support the use of infant massage in the community, particularly in contexts where infant stimulation is poor. Further research is needed, however, before it will be possible to recommend universal provision.
Item Type: | Journal Item | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics |
||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Mental Health and Wellbeing Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School |
||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Touch in infants, Infants -- Development, Systematic reviews (Medical research) | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology | ||||
Publisher: | Routledge | ||||
ISSN: | 0264-6838 | ||||
Official Date: | 2010 | ||||
Dates: |
|
||||
Volume: | Vol.28 | ||||
Number: | No.1 | ||||
Number of Pages: | 19 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 11-29 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1080/02646830903247209 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access |
Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
View Item |