SynthesisPediatric research2026
Effectiveness of music therapy intervention on parent-infant attachment and parental anxiety in premature infants care: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Pediatric research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPremature birth can pose challenges to parent-infant attachment and increase parental anxiety. Music therapy has been proposed as an intervention, but its effectiveness remains unclear.
methodsSix databases (Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EBSCO, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus) were searched until January 15, 2025. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effects of music intervention versus routine care on parental anxiety and parent-infant attachment in caring for premature infants. Quality assessment was conducted using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed with heterogeneity assessed via I
resultsAfter comprehensive screening, 13 randomized controlled trials published between 2014 and 2024 were included, encompassing 1034 participants with preterm infants. The meta-analysis revealed no statistically significant improvement in parent-infant attachment or parental anxiety with music therapy compared to conventional care. However, subgroup analysis indicated that frequent music therapy interventions (≥once daily) positively influenced parent-infant attachment (SMD = -1.08, 95% CI: [-1.92, -0.24], p = 0.01).
conclusionsOverall, music therapy may not reduce parental anxiety or improve attachment, but frequent interventions demonstrated promising potential and warrant further investigation. REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42025643424. IMPACT STATEMENT: This review indicates that music therapy, compared to standard care, shows no significant effects on parent-infant attachment or parental anxiety in the care of premature infants. However, more frequent (≥once daily) music therapy shows more promising results in improving parent-infant attachment, suggesting the importance of intervention intensity. These insights inform the development of targeted daily therapy protocol to enhance preterm care outcomes.
Identifiers
41507399What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.