Description
INTRODUCTIONCT-optimal stroking touch has been shown to stimulate parasympathetic regulation in infants. However, it was not yet been examined whether providing gentle touch in a structured manner may stimulate changes in the reactivity of the parasympathetic regulatory system.
AIM of the study. We aimed at measuring the impact of a Gentle Touch Stimulation (GTS) program on physiological stress resilience of 3-12 weeks old infants in terms of parasympathetic regulation (i.e., respiratory sinus arrythmia or RSA, heartrate, respiration and cortisol).
MATERIAL and METHODs
Forty-three mother-infant dyads enrolled for the program and were ascribed to a GTS group or control (CTRL) group. GTS mothers provided daily 10 minutes GTS with C-tactile (CT) afferent optimal stroking touch, for 4 weeks to their infants. CTRL-mothers provided no additional care. We measured mother-infant ECG, respiration, cortisol, video recordings, and diary-reports at the start (T1) and end (T2) of the GTS program, comparing the physiological responses during a no-touch-baseline (BL), static-touch-baseline (BL-T), intervention/control (GTS/CTRL), Still Face (SF) and Reunion (RU) condition for GTS versus CTRL-infants.
CONCLUSIONS
At T1, physiological arousal significantly increased during SF in both groups, that is, decreased RSA and R-R interval (RRI). At T2, GTS-infants showed significantly increased parasympathetic regulation during GTS in terms of increased RSA and RRI and decreased respiration. Moreover, during SF they showed a clear buffer against SF-arousal, and they showed physiological recovery during RU. CTRL-infants showed higher arousal during SF and only a small recovery during RU that remained under their initial BL-levels. Maternal cardio-respiratory showed a metabolic investment during RU. Cortisol and behavioral analyses showed higher arousal in CTRL-infants than GTS-infants at T2. The results provide extra information in terms of phasic and tonic responses and attribute a potential role of CT-optimal stroking touch in the building of infant stress regulation and resilience.
| Période | 18 juil. 2023 |
|---|---|
| Titre de l'événement | 18th World Association for Infant Mental Health World Congress |
| Type d'événement | Une conférence |
| Emplacement | Dublin, IrlandeAfficher sur la carte |
| Degré de reconnaissance | International |