Physiological and psychological assessments of baby massage—Evaluation by salivary cortisol levels and profile of mood states—

Abstract

The aim of this study was to measure the effects of baby massage sessions performed by mothers for their infants, using the physiological and psychological indicators, and evaluate the stress relief effects for both mother and infant. The study was conducted for 18 pairs of mothers and infants who attended the massage classes. Saliva was collected from both mother and infant before starting the massage, and 30 and 60 min after the massage. Psychological aspects were assessed from the mother side using the short form of POMS. As a result, significant decrease in the salivary cortisol levels was observed 60 min after the massage sessions in infants when compared with those observed before the sessions (p=.005). On the other hand, as for mothers, cortisol concentrations in saliva significantly increased 30 min after the massage sessions compared with those observed before the sessions (p=.008), but there was no significant difference between 60 min after the massage sessions and those observed before the sessions. The mothers’ POMS scores significantly decreased 30 min after the sessions for low orders of the scales “tension-anxiety”, “fatigue”, and “confusion” (p<.05). The results demonstrate that infants got relief from stresses and mothers’ mood states improved by a massage given by mother to infant.