When parents gently touch, talk to, and look at their premature babies during feeding for six months, it helps both moms and dads feel much less anxious and stressed out.
Scientific Claim
A home-based integrated sensory stimulation program administered by parents to preterm infants (28–36 weeks gestational age) for six months significantly reduces maternal trait anxiety by 2.18 standard deviations and paternal state anxiety by 4.63 standard deviations compared to standard care, as measured by validated scales, indicating a clinically meaningful improvement in parental mental health.
Original Statement
“In the mixed linear model, the intervention was associated with reductions in maternal trait anxiety (d = -2.18; 95% CI: −4.30, −0.06), paternal trait anxiety (d = -3.37; 95% CI: −5.62, −1.11) and state anxiety (d = -4.63; 95% CI: −7.00, −2.26).”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
definitive
Can make definitive causal claims
Assessment Explanation
The study is a randomized controlled trial with confirmed randomization and ITT analysis, allowing causal inference. The effect sizes are large and statistically significant, justifying definitive language. Blinding limitations do not negate causation in this context.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Effects of home-based integrated sensory stimulation program to preterm infants on parents’ depression and anxiety: a randomized controlled trial
The study found that when parents gave their premature babies gentle sensory care like touching, singing, and smelling at home for six months, both moms and dads became much less anxious—exactly as the claim says.