The effect of infant massage on mother-infant bonding among infants aged 6-12 months

Authors

Ririn Indriani Department of Midwifery, Poltekkes Kemenkes Malang, Kediri, East Java, Indonesia
Finta Isti Kundarti Department of Midwifery, Poltekkes Kemenkes Malang, Kediri, East Java, Indonesia

Keywords:

infant massage, mibs, mother-infant bonding, attachment, infant development

Abstract

Mother–infant bonding plays an essential role in supporting infants’ emotional, cognitive, and psychosocial development during early life. One non-pharmacological intervention that may strengthen emotional attachment between mothers and infants is infant massage. This study aimed to analyze the effect of infant massage on mother–infant bonding among infants aged 6–12 months. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group approach. The research was conducted from January to November 2025 at several Posyandu within the working areas of Puskesmas Sukorame and South Kediri Public Health Center, Indonesia. Participants consisted of mothers and their infants aged 6–12 months selected using purposive sampling. Mothers in the intervention group received infant massage training and were instructed to perform massage twice weekly for four consecutive weeks. Maternal–infant bonding was measured using the Maternal Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS) before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests with a significance level of p < 0.05. The findings demonstrated a significant increase in bonding scores among mothers in the intervention group after four weeks of infant massage practice (p < 0.001). Mothers showed greater emotional warmth, improved responsiveness, and enhanced interaction with their infants, while infants appeared calmer and more relaxed during interactions. In conclusion, infant massage effectively strengthens mother–infant bonding and may serve as a low-cost, culturally acceptable intervention to support early relational health and maternal well-being within community-based maternal and child health services.

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