Comparison 2. Infant massage versus control ‐ mental health and development.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Infant temperament meta‐analyses	3		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.1 Activity (post‐intervention)	3	121	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.39 [‐0.34, 1.13]
1.2 Persistence (post‐intervention)	2	81	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.24 [‐0.20, 0.67]
1.3 Soothability (post‐intervention)	2	80	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.30 [‐0.94, 0.35]
2 Infant temperament (CCTI) post intervention	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.1 Activity	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.60 [‐4.41, 1.21]
2.2 Soothability	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.90 [‐5.71, ‐0.09]
2.3 Emotionality	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.80 [‐3.61, 2.01]
2.4 Sociability	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.5 [‐3.98, 0.98]
2.5 Persistence	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.10 [‐2.38, 2.58]
2.6 Food adaptation	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.5 [‐1.98, 2.98]
3 Infant temperament (Infant behaviour questionnaire (IBQ) post intervention)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.1 Activity	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.56 [0.08, 1.04]
3.2 Soothability	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.03 [‐0.59, 0.65]
3.3 Duration of orienting	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐0.82, 0.82]
3.4 Distress to limitations	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.08 [‐0.49, 0.33]
3.5 Fear	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.06 [‐0.63, 0.51]
3.6 Amount of smiling	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.30 [‐0.14, 0.74]
4 Infant temperament questionnaire (revised RITQ (Carey)) post‐intervention 4 months	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
4.1 Activity	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.41 [0.11, 0.71]
4.2 Rhythmicity	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.19 [‐0.63, 0.25]
4.3 Approach	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.17 [‐0.18, 0.52]
4.4 Adaptability	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.10 [‐0.30, 0.50]
4.5 Intensity	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.19 [‐0.28, 0.66]
4.6 Mood	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.31 [‐0.14, 0.76]
4.7 Persistence	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.33 [‐0.11, 0.77]
4.8 Distractibility	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.28 [‐0.18, 0.74]
4.9 Threshold	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.11 [‐0.43, 0.65]
5 Infant temperament questionnaire (revised RITQ (Carey)) follow‐up 8 months	1	369	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.66 [0.48, 0.84]
5.1 Activity	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.25 [‐0.33, 0.83]
5.2 Rhythmicity	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.80 [0.12, 1.48]
5.3 Approach	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.88 [0.25, 1.51]
5.4 Adaptability	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.69 [0.01, 1.37]
5.5 Intensity	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.39 [0.02, 0.76]
5.6 Mood	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.08 [0.65, 1.51]
5.7 Persistence	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.65 [‐0.03, 1.33]
5.8 Distractibility	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.72 [0.32, 1.12]
5.9 Threshold	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.48 [‐0.27, 1.23]
6 Infant Care Questionnaire post‐intervention	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
6.1 ICQ fussy/difficult	1	59	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.37 [‐2.53, 5.27]
6.2 ICQ unadaptable	1	59	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.19 [‐1.51, 1.13]
6.3 ICQ dull	1	59	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.08 [‐2.60, 0.44]
6.4 ICQ unpredictable	1	59	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.61 [‐1.78, 3.00]
7 Infant Care Questionnaire follow‐up 1 year	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
7.1 ICQ fussy/difficult	1	50	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.05 [‐2.43, 4.53]
7.2 ICQ unadaptable	1	50	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.39 [‐1.63, 0.85]
7.3 ICQ dull	1	50	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.35 [‐1.54, 2.24]
7.4 ICQ unpredictable	1	50	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.89 [‐0.55, 4.33]
8 Infant attachment (Q set)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
8.1 Follow‐up 1 year	1	39	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.06 [‐0.17, 0.05]
9 Child behaviour (HOME)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
9.1 Follow‐up (24 months)	1	25	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.34 [‐1.92, 2.60]
10 Eyberg Child Behaviour Inventory (ECBI) ‐ Intensity domain	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
10.1 Follow‐up 24 months	1	25	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	4.95 [‐9.94, 19.84]
11 Eyberg Child Behaviour Inventory (ECBI) ‐ Problem domain	1	25	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.19 [‐3.26, 2.88]
11.1 Follow‐up 24 months	1	25	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.19 [‐3.26, 2.88]
12 Mother and child interaction meta‐analysis ‐ Total NCATS and Murray Global	4		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
12.1 Post‐intervention	3	131	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.26 [‐1.01, 0.48]
12.2 Follow‐up 12 and 24 months	2	65	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.20 [‐0.69, 0.29]
13 Nursing Child Feeding Assessment Scale (NCAFS) ‐ Total	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
13.1 Post‐intervention (16 weeks)	1	47	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.10 [‐6.16, 1.96]
14 Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scale (NCATS) ‐ Mother	1		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
14.1 Follow‐up 24 months	1	25	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.18 [‐0.96, 0.61]
15 Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scale (NCATS) ‐ Child	1	25	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.35 [‐0.44, 1.14]
15.1 Follow‐up 24 months	1	25	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.35 [‐0.44, 1.14]
16 Maternal sensitivity ‐ warm to cold (Murray)	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
16.1 Post‐intervention	2	84	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.34 [‐1.07, 0.40]
16.2 Follow‐up 1 year	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.84 [‐1.07, ‐0.61]
17 Maternal sensitivity ‐ non‐intrusive to intrusive (Murray)	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
17.1 Post‐intervention	2	84	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.10 [‐0.85, 0.66]
17.2 Follow‐up 1 year	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.01 [‐0.30, 0.28]
18 Maternal sensitivity ‐ remoteness (Murray)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
18.1 Post‐intervention	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.08 [‐0.32, 0.48]
18.2 Follow‐up	1	62	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.14 [‐0.40, 0.12]
19 Infant interactions ‐ infant performance ‐ attentive to non attentive (Murray)	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
19.1 Post‐intervention	2	84	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.47 [‐1.47, 0.52]
19.2 Follow‐up 1 year	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.18 [‐0.18, 0.54]
20 Infant interactions ‐ lively to inert (Murray)	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
20.1 Post‐intervention	2	84	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.46 [‐1.45, 0.53]
20.2 Follow‐up 1 year	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.11 [‐0.31, 0.09]
21 Infant interactions ‐ happy to distressed (Murray)	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
21.1 Post intervention	2	84	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.35 [‐1.29, 0.59]
21.2 Follow‐up 1 year	1	40	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.02 [‐0.26, 0.22]
22 Parenting stress (PSI Abidin) child characteristics subscale	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
22.1 Post‐intervention	2	55	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐10.85 [‐53.86, 32.16]
23 Psychomotor Development Indices (PDI) meta‐analysis post‐intervention	4		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
23.1 Post‐intervention	4	466	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.35 [‐0.54, ‐0.15]
23.2 Post‐intervention sensitivity analysis Western studies	1	41	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.00 [‐0.61, 0.62]
24 Bayley Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) follow‐up	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
24.1 Follow‐up 8 months	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.78 [‐11.89, 10.33]
24.2 Follow‐up 24 months	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐7.52 [‐16.53, 1.49]
25 Mental Development Indices (MDI) meta‐analysis post‐intervention	4		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
25.1 Post‐intervention	4	466	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.27 [‐0.64, 0.11]
25.2 Post‐intervention sensitivity analysis Western studies	1	41	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.38 [‐0.23, 1.00]
26 Bayley Mental Development Index (MDI) follow‐up	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
26.1 Follow‐up 8 months	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	22.85 [4.26, 41.44]
26.2 Follow‐up 24 months	1	41	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐8.59 [‐18.80, 1.62]
27 Gessel/Capital meta‐analysis (post intervention)	2		Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
27.1 Gross motor	2	237	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.44 [‐0.70, ‐0.18]
27.2 Fine motor	2	237	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.61 [‐0.87, ‐0.35]
27.3 Language	2	237	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.82 [‐1.67, 0.03]
27.4 Personal‐social behaviour	2	237	Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.90 [‐1.61, ‐0.18]
28 Gessel Developmental Quotient (post intervention)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
28.1 Adaptive behaviour	1	180	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐7.07 [‐9.75, ‐4.39]
28.2 Gross motor	1	180	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐3.97 [‐6.99, ‐0.95]
28.3 Fine motor	1	180	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐6.89 [‐10.18, ‐3.60]
28.4 Language	1	180	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐4.15 [‐7.03, ‐1.27]
28.5 Personal‐social behaviour	1	180	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐6.41 [‐9.65, ‐3.17]
29 Capital institute Mental Checklist (post intervention)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
29.1 Gross motor	1	57	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.24 [‐0.44, ‐0.05]
29.2 Fine motor	1	57	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.28 [‐0.51, ‐0.05]
29.3 Cognitive	1	57	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.54 [‐0.92, ‐0.15]
29.4 Language	1	57	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.7 [‐0.99, ‐0.41]
29.5 Social behaviour	1	57	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.70 [‐0.97, ‐0.42]
29.6 IQ	1	57	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐27.18 [‐33.13, ‐21.23]
30 Gessel Developmental Quotient (follow‐up 6 months)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
30.1 Adaptive behaviour	1	116	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐5.79 [‐9.64, ‐1.94]
30.2 Gross motor	1	116	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.85 [‐8.18, 2.48]
30.3 Fine motor	1	116	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐8.12 [‐11.67, ‐4.57]
30.4 Language	1	116	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐7.90 [‐11.70, ‐4.10]
30.5 Personal‐social behaviour	1	116	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐6.19 [‐9.83, ‐2.55]
31 Attachment patterns (strange situation procedure)	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
31.1 Secure (1 year follow‐up)	1	39	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.82 [0.50, 1.34]
31.2 Avoidant (1 year follow‐up)	1	39	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.39 [0.14, 14.07]
31.3 Resistant (1 year follow‐up)	1	39	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	3.48 [0.45, 27.02]
31.4 Disorganised (1 year follow‐up)	1	39	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.70 [0.16, 3.02]
32 Distractibility (toy) follow‐up 1 year	1		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
32.1 Mean looks greater than 14 secs	1	32	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	2.65 [0.31, 22.82]
32.2 Mean looks less than 14 secs	1	32	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.88 [0.68, 1.14]
32.3 Max looks greater than 14 secs	1	32	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.96 [0.66, 1.38]
32.4 Max looks less than 14 secs	1	32	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.76 [0.37, 8.31]
33 Habituation	1	32	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.10 [‐4.79, 2.59]
34 Seconds to habituation	1	32	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐10.90 [‐69.41, 47.61]
35 Trials to habituation	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
36 Post habituation	1	32	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	2.0 [‐2.43, 6.43]
37 Habituation test	1	32	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐12.40 [‐19.37, ‐5.43]