Spädbarnsmassage, ett verktyg för socialt arbete? : En kvalitativ studie

Sammanfattning: The overarching purpose of the study was to examine the effects of infant massage and to put these effects in context with mother – child attachment. The intention was also to study whether these effects have any relevance for social work. This was accomplished by studying earlier research, theory and laws but also through interviews with mothers who have followed through a course in infant massage. The main questions of the study was: After the completion of the course and after using the massage technique at home, does the mother experience that the bond with their child is influenced by the technique and are the mothers more apprehensive of their child’s signals? Has the mothers observed any signals from their infants during the massage and if so what has been their reaction? Does the mothers experience that the massage has provided any physiological effects? Has the completion of the course provided the mothers with knowledge that’s had an effect in their ways of parenting? In what way does the earlier research, reports and laws deal with the benefits and risks of a secure or insecure attachment, and can the quality of the attachment have any meaning in the social work? A qualitative approach was chosen with respondent-interviews. The respondents were mothers, currently living in Örebro who completed a course of infant massage with an instructor within International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM). All of the mothers experienced positive effects by the massage both within the child as well as themselves. Earlier research inclines that touch influences the mother – child attachment through bodily chemical processes but also through emotional experiences acquired by the infant. Touch is the first way of communicating with the infant, and this is also a way of strengthening attachment. Fogel schneiders (1996) conclusion by this is that the contact between caregivers and child is strengthen by infant massage. A secure attachment has positive effects for the child which might motivate the usage of attachment-strengthening methods, such as infant massage, within social work.