Premature birth presents a complex array of challenges, not only for the infants themselves but also for their parents and caregivers. Among the most pressing concerns in neonatal care is the disruption of the natural parent-infant attachment process, which can have enduring implications for the psychological and emotional well-being of both parties. Parents of preterm infants frequently experience heightened anxiety and stress, spurred by concerns about their child’s fragile health and the often-prolonged hospital stays in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). These stressors can compromise the essential bonding that underpins healthy developmental trajectories. In this context, the search for effective interventions to mitigate parental anxiety and strengthen parent-infant attachment has become a pivotal focus of neonatal research.
A recently published systematic review and meta-analysis by Sun and Tang, featured in Pediatric Research on January 8, 2026, addresses this critical gap by examining the efficacy of music therapy as an adjunctive intervention in the care of premature infants. Music therapy, with its unique capacity to engage sensory and emotional pathways, has been proposed for decades as a potential therapeutic tool within NICUs. However, conflicting findings and methodological discrepancies across studies have posed challenges in establishing a clear consensus on its benefits.
The meta-analysis conducted by Sun and Tang is especially significant for synthesizing existing empirical data from diverse clinical settings and rigorous randomized controlled trials to provide quantitative estimates of music therapy’s impact on both parent-infant attachment and parental anxiety. Their approach systematically aggregates data, enabling an evidence-based evaluation that moves beyond anecdotal and isolated study results. This comprehensive methodology enhances the reliability and generalizability of their conclusions.
One of the key findings of their analysis indicates that music therapy interventions, often involving lullabies, live singing, or pre-recorded soothing melodies, can significantly enhance the quality of attachment behaviors exhibited by parents toward their preterm newborns. This enhanced attachment is characterized by increased parental sensitivity, responsiveness, and nurturing behaviors, which are critical factors influencing long-term developmental outcomes. The neurobiological underpinnings of this effect may involve the modulation of stress-related hormonal pathways and the promotion of oxytocin release, a hormone closely linked to bonding and social affiliation.
Equally important is the documented effect of music therapy on reducing parental anxiety, a well-recognized barrier to effective caregiving. Anxiety in parents of preterm infants is often driven by the uncertainty of the infant’s survival and developmental prospects, as well as the stressful NICU environment, which can be alienating and intimidating. Sun and Tang’s review highlights consistent reductions in anxiety scores among parents who participated in music therapy sessions, suggesting that these interventions offer psychological relief and foster a sense of empowerment and emotional connection.
The implications of these findings extend beyond the immediate clinical outcomes. Improved parent-infant attachment and reduced parental anxiety have cascading effects, potentially influencing infant neurodevelopment, family dynamics, and health care utilization patterns. Enhanced parental mental health may enable more optimal caregiving behaviors post-discharge, which are crucial for the ongoing support and stimulation that preterm infants require to overcome early adversities.
Methodologically, the meta-analysis presents strengths in its rigorous inclusion criteria and comprehensive literature search strategy, encompassing studies across multiple countries and varied cultural contexts. This diversity fortifies the external validity of the findings, suggesting that the benefits of music therapy may be universally applicable across different healthcare systems and populations. However, the authors acknowledge heterogeneity in intervention protocols, session duration, and musical content as limitations that warrant further standardization and research.
Technically, the studies included in the analysis employed standardized assessment tools for measuring attachment and anxiety, such as the Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, ensuring consistency in outcome evaluation. The combined data revealed effect sizes indicative of medium to large impacts, which underscores the clinical relevance of music therapy as a non-pharmacological and low-risk intervention.
The neurodevelopmental perspectives on how music therapy mediates these effects are particularly fascinating. Music’s rhythmic and melodic elements can modulate autonomic nervous system activity in both infants and adults, promoting relaxation responses and synchronizing physiological rhythms. This sensory modulation may provide a pathway through which parents can feel more attuned to their infants, facilitating a bi-directional synchronization that is foundational to attachment.
From a broader standpoint, integrating music therapy into NICU protocols could redefine standard care practices. Tailoring musical interventions to individual infant preferences and parental cultural backgrounds may optimize engagement and therapeutic efficacy. This individualized approach aligns with contemporary precision medicine paradigms and supports holistic family-centered care models.
The findings of Sun and Tang’s analysis offer healthcare professionals evidence-based guidance for incorporating music therapy as part of comprehensive neonatal care strategies. By alleviating parental anxiety and enhancing attachment, music therapy may contribute significantly to better psychosocial environments for preterm infants, thereby mitigating some of the developmental risks associated with prematurity.
Future research directions suggested by the authors include large-scale, multicenter trials that examine long-term outcomes of music therapy exposure, including neurocognitive development and parental mental health trajectories over the first years of life. Furthermore, elucidating the optimal types, timing, and dosage of musical interventions remains a critical research priority.
As the body of evidence grows, music therapy could emerge not only as a complementary clinical practice but also as a key therapeutic pillar capable of transforming the parental experience in NICUs worldwide. This potential transformation underscores the importance of continued investment and interdisciplinary collaboration in neonatal care research.
In summary, Sun and Tang’s systematic review and meta-analysis provide compelling data supporting the effectiveness of music therapy in addressing two of the most challenging aspects of preterm infant care: the development of secure parent-infant attachment and the reduction of parental anxiety. Their work advances our understanding of how a creative and non-invasive intervention can have profound biological and psychological benefits in a highly vulnerable population.
The research also highlights music’s remarkable capacity to bridge emotional gaps created by premature birth, softening the harsh realities of NICU environments and allowing families to experience moments of connection and healing. It invites clinicians, researchers, and caregivers alike to consider the integral role that arts and culture can play in scientific and medical settings, revealing the profound human dimensions of healing.
As the neonatal field increasingly embraces multidisciplinary approaches, integrating music therapy may prove transformative not only for infants and parents but also for the broader healthcare systems tasked with nurturing the next generation of survivors. This aligns with an evolving vision of care that prioritizes emotional resilience, family empowerment, and holistic recovery alongside physical health outcomes.
Recognizing the urgent needs of families facing premature births, this evidence-based endorsement of music therapy invites a paradigm shift toward more compassionate, holistic, and effective neonatal care practices. Ultimately, the harmony between science and art depicted in this research may provide the soundtrack for new beginnings in the lives of preterm infants and their families.
Subject of Research: The effectiveness of music therapy intervention on parent-infant attachment and parental anxiety in the care of premature infants.
Article Title: Effectiveness of music therapy intervention on parent-infant attachment and parental anxiety in premature infants care: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Article References:
Sun, F., Tang, D. Effectiveness of music therapy intervention on parent-infant attachment and parental anxiety in premature infants care: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pediatr Res (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-04739-x
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: 10.1038/s41390-025-04739-x
Keywords: Premature birth, music therapy, parent-infant attachment, parental anxiety, neonatal intensive care, neurodevelopment, systematic review, meta-analysis
Tags: emotional well-being of preterm infantsenhancing parent-child bondingimproving mental health for parents of preemiesmusic therapy and neonatal outcomesmusic therapy for premature infantsneonatal care interventionsparent-infant attachment in NICUspsychological benefits of music therapyreducing parental anxiety through musicstress relief for NICU parentssystematic review of music therapytherapeutic effects of music in healthcare
