J Korean Acad Child Health Nurs.  2008 Jul;14(3):252-260.

Effects of Group Meridian Massage on Infant Growth on Parenting Stress and Parenting Self-Efficacy in Their Mothers

• Cho KJ
• Lee MH
• Ji ES

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate effect of Meridian massage on the growth of infants and on parenting stress and parenting self-efficacy in their mothers. METHOD: The participants were 65 mothers of infants who visited one public health center in Yangju City. Data were collected from February, 2007 to December, 2007. Infants in the experimental group were given Meridian massage for 50 minutes (lecture 20 minutes, practice 15 minutes, preparation and arrangement 15 minutes) once a week for 6 weeks. Percentages, means with standard deviation, Fisher's Exact Test, chi-square test, Repeated Measured ANOVA and ANCOVA were used, with the SPSS program, to analyze the data.
RESULTS
Infants in the experimental group showed an increase in height compared to those in the control group, but there was no difference in infant weight between the two groups. Compared to the control group, mothers in the experimental group has significantly less Parenting Stress and Parenting Self-efficacy.
CONCLUSION
The above findings suggest that maternally administered Meridian massage should be applied in clinical practice to improve growth of infants, emotional condition of mothers and interaction between infants and their mothers.

Keyword

Meridian massage; Growth; Parenting stress; Parenting self-efficacy

MeSH Terms

Humans
Infant
Massage
Mothers
Parenting
Parents
Public Health
Child Health