Massage Therapy for Infant Temperaments: An Intervention Study

Abstract

A form of complementary therapy, infant massage, has the potential to ameliorate difficult infant temperaments and transform them into easier ones. This study aimed to ascertain the impact of newborn massage therapy on infants' temperament. A total of 102 participants were divided into two groups for this quasi-experimental study using a pretest and posttest. Over the length of five weeks, twice each week, the experimental groups received ten-time massages in total. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was applied to the data. This study discovered that infant massage improved the temperament in the experimental group from difficult to easy, a result that was mirrored in the control group. Infants may develop a more positive temperament through the utilization of infant massage therapy. Healthcare professionals are required to provide a thorough understanding of the physiological and psychological growth of infants, placing special attention on strategies that promote a positive temperament.

Keywords

• infant massage
• infant temperament
• complementary therapy