What type of study is this?

This is a Human Clinical Trial study (also classified as: RCT).

What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to evaluate the effects of infant video and scent on maternal anxiety, stress, and attachment.

May 6, 2026Open Access

The Effect of Watching Infant Video With or Without Smelling an Infant‐Scented Hat With Infant Scent on Anxiety, Milk Volume, Stress, and Attachment in Mothers of Hospitalized Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Key Points

This study aims to evaluate the effects of infant video and scent on maternal anxiety, stress, and attachment.
Randomized controlled trial conducted with 78 mothers in three groups: infant-scented hat plus video, video only, and control group.
Interventions lasted for 5 days, with training on breast pumping and recording milk volume.
Data analyzed using analysis of covariance.
Both interventions significantly reduced state and trait anxiety compared to the control group.
Group 1 showed higher milk volume than the control group on multiple days.
Mother-infant attachment scores were significantly higher in Group 1 compared to the control group.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background and Aims An infant's unique scent can significantly foster a deep emotional connection between mother and baby. This study aimed to determine the effect of watching infant video with or without smelling an infant‐scented hat on anxiety and breast milk volume (primary outcomes), stress and mother‐infant attachment (secondary outcomes) in mothers with hospitalized infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods In this randomized controlled trial, 78 mothers were allocated to three groups using block randomization: intervention group 1 (infant‐scented hat plus video), intervention group 2 (video only), and a control group (plain hat). The intervention lasted 5 days. All mothers received training on breast pumping and recording their milk volume. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance. Results Compared with the control group, both interventions led to significant improvements in state anxiety (Group 1: adjusted mean difference AMD = −16.40, 95%CI: −24.56 to −8.24, p < 0.001; Group 2: AMD = −13.83, 95%CI: −21.26 to −6.40, p < 0.001), trait anxiety (Group 1: AMD = −11.54, 95%CI: −16.29 to −6.80, p < 0.001; Group 2: AMD = −11.57, 95%CI: −15.87 to −7.26, p < 0.001), and perceived stress (Group 1: AMD = −2.11, 95%CI: −3.67 to −0.56, p = 0.004; Group 2: AMD = −1.86, 95%CI: −3.39 to −0.33, p = 0.001). Milk volume (mL) in Group 1 was significantly higher than in the control group (Day 3: MD = 37.85, 95%CI: 4.13 to 71.56, p = 0.023; Day 4: MD = 49.13, 95%CI: 9.73 to 88.53, p = 0.010; Day 5: MD = 80.55, 95%CI: 34.85 to 126.26, p = 0.001). On Day 5, milk volume in Group 2 was significantly higher than in the control group (MD = 51.05, 95%CI: 5.17 to 96.93, p = 0.024). Mother–infant attachment scores were significantly higher in Group 1 compared with the control group (MD = 3.56, 95%CI: 0.93 to 6.19, p = 0.004). Conclusion Scent‐infused materials and infant video exposure during NICU hospitalization may reduce maternal anxiety and stress, enhance milk production, and improve attachment, supporting development of targeted NICU interventions.

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Cite This Study

Laleh et al. (Fri,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69faa2e204f884e66b53386e https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.72468

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