Qualitative study: Caregiver's perception of the social-emotional development of children given infant massage as a daily affective touch

Ni Nyoman Ayuk Widiani; Made Pradnyawati Chania; Ni Ketut Ayu Sugiartini; Ni Made Rai Widiastuti; Ni Made Ari Febriyanti; Ni Wayan Sukma Adnyani

doi:10.21927/jnki.2025.13(4).510-522

Qualitative study: Caregiver's perception of the social-emotional development of children given infant massage as a daily affective touch

Ni Nyoman Ayuk Widiani, Made Pradnyawati Chania, Ni Ketut Ayu Sugiartini, Ni Made Rai Widiastuti, Ni Made Ari Febriyanti, Ni Wayan Sukma Adnyani

Abstract

Background: Affective touch aims to convey affection to children. This touch is closely related to emotional needs and social bonds, which strengthen relationships between individuals. Children in orphanages often experience a lack of affective touch, which causes persistent stress.

Objectives: To determine caregivers' perceptions of the social-emotional development of babies and children who receive baby massage as daily affective touch at the Metta Mama and Maggha Foundations.

Methods: This research is a qualitative study with a phenomenological approach. The sample consisted of 25 caregivers, using the total population. Data was collected through focus group discussions (FGDs), with each group consisting of 8-9 caregivers.

Results: Some participants have the perception that a socially healthy child is a child who is able to adapt and interact with others, some participants have the perception that children need social-emotional aspects such as the need for affection, attention, the need to be loved, a sense of security, and a desire to be understood, some participants have the perception that the role of caregivers is very large because it replaces the role of parents, most participants said that baby massage has been done on children aged 0-6 months, some participants have the perception that baby massage can affect the calmness, comfort of babies so that they can be more optimal in carrying out daily activities, some participants have the perception that children who are socially-emotionally healthy behave more understandingly, confidently and more quickly accept the information given and all participants have the perception that it is very important to apply parenting patterns with touch, because of the lack of touch in orphanages.

Conclusions: According to caregivers at the Metta Mama & Maggha Foundation, it is important to implement parenting patterns with touch in the form of baby massage as Daily Affective Touch in children's social-emotional development

Keywords

affective touch; baby massage; caregiver; development; perception

Full Text:

PDF

References

Fotopoulou A, von Mohr M, Krahé C. Affective regulation through touch: homeostatic and allostatic mechanisms. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences. 2022;43:80–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2021.08.008.

Kidd T, Devine SL, Walker SC. Affective touch and regulation of stress responses. Health Psychology Review. 2023;17(1):60–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2022.2143854

Montirosso R, McGlone F. The body comes first. Embodied reparation and the co-creation of infant bodily-self. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2020 Jun;113:77-87. Available from : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.003. Epub 2020 Mar 4. PMID: 32145222.

Ayuk Widiani NN, Pradnyawati Chania M. Keajaiban Sentuhan Ibu "Pentingnya Sentuhan dan Interaksi Pijat Bayi pada Tumbuh Kembang Anak. Pertama. Jakarta Barat: Penerbit Nuansa Fajar Cemerlang Jakarta; 2025.

Carozza S, Leong V. The Role of Affectionate Caregiver Touch in Early Neurodevelopment and Parent–Infant Interactional Synchrony. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2021; 14 (January) : 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2020.613378.

El-Farrash RA, Shinkar DM, Ragab DA, Salem RM, Saad WE, Farag AS, et al. Longer duration of kangaroo care improves neurobehavioral performance and feeding in preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatr Res [Internet]. 2020;87(4):683–8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-019-0558-6

Firmino C, Rodrigues M, Franco S, Ferreira J, Simões AR, Castro C, et al. Nursing Interventions That Promote Sleep in Preterm Newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022;19(17). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710953.

Moberg K, Handlin L, Petersson M. Neuroendocrine mechanisms involved in the physiological effects caused by skin-to-skin contact - With a particular focus on the oxytocinergic system. Infant Behav Development. 2020 Sep https://doi.org/10;61:101482.:10.1016/j.infbeh.2020.101482

Williams LR, Turner PR. Infant carrying as a tool to promote secure attachments in young mothers: Comparing intervention and control infants during the still-face paradigm. Infant Behavior and Development. 2020;58:101413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2019.101413.

Nikolaeva EI, Dydenkova EA, Mayorova LA, Portnova G V. The impact of daily affective touch on cortisol levels in institutionalized & fostered children. Physiology & Behavior. 2024;277:114479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114479

Sayler K, McLaughlin KA, Belsky J. Early-life threat and deprivation: Are children similarly affected by exposure to each?. Child Dev. 2025 ; 96(2): 606–618. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.14188.

Brodzinsky D, Gunnar M, Palacios J. Adoption and trauma: Risks, recovery, and the lived experience of adoption. Child Abuse Negl. 2022 August ; 130(Pt 2): 105309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105309.

Dingding S, Valdez S, Ong N, Macantan J, Abas J, Querubin M, et al. A Review On The Effectiveness Of Massage Therapy In Pain Management And TreatmenT. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews. 2022;445–55. https://doi.org/10.55248/gengpi.2022.3.6.4

Metta Mama Maggha. Profil Yayasan Metta Mama dan Maggha [Internet]. 2022. Available from: https://mamamagghafoundation.org/

Van Tiel JM. Perkembangan Sosial Emosional Anak Gifted [Internet]. Prenada; 2019. Available from: https://books.google.co.id/books?id=597vDwAAQBAJ

Ndari SS, Vinayastri A, Masykuroh K. Metode Perkembangan Sosial Emosi Anak Usia Dini. Tasikmalaya: Edu Publisher; 2018.

Kasiati, Rosmalawati NWD. Kebutuhan Dasar Manusia I. Pusdik SDM Kesehatan; 2016.

Li Q, Zhao W, Kendrick KM. Affective touch in the context of development, oxytocin signaling, and autism. Frontiers in Psychology. 2022;13(November):1–10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.967791

Mehrad A, Da Veiga J, Kasparian J, Cardoso M, Hernandez I. Understanding and Exploring Social Psychology in the Context of Human Behavior. Open Science Journal. 2023;8:1–18. :

Brzozowska A. Caregiver touch and infant exploratory behaviour. Birkbeck, University of London; 2021.

Jacobsen H, Wentzel-Larsen T, Bergsund HB. Foster children’s cognitive functioning: A follow-up comparison study at 8 years of age.

Children and Youth Services Review. 2020;118:105342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105342

Sand H, Sticca F, Eichelberger DA, Wehrle FM, Simoni H, Jenni OG, et al. Raised in conditions of psychosocial deprivation: Effects of infant institutionalization on early development. Children and Youth Services Review. 2024;163:107718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107718

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21927/jnki.2025.13(4).510-522