Acute effects of Yakson and Gentle Human Touch on the behavioral state of preterm infants

Abstract

Two weeks of touch intervention, either Yakson or Gentle Human Touch (GHT) have been shown to reduce the levels of stress hormones. This study evaluated the acute impact of both interventions on state during and immediately after touch. Forty preterm infants with a gestational age of ≤34 weeks received either Yakson or GHT for 15 days. A significantly greater sleeping state was identified in both groups after touch. This effect was significantly stronger with Yakson than GHT. During touch, about half the Yakson infants showed an arousal effect while the GHT infants showed little change. Both interventions left the babies calmer after touch. This calming effect is consistent with the previously observed effect on stress hormones and should be beneficial in terms of growth and development. Yakson had an arousing effect on a subset of the infants during touch, which possibly could be beneficial in terms of social development.