Fathers massaging and relaxing their pregnant wives lowered anxiety and facilitated marital adjustment

Abstract

Summary This study examined the effects of fathers massaging their pregnant wives and practicing relaxation with them. Participants were married American fathers who completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Paternal Fetal Attachment Scale. The fathers learned to massage their pregnant wives, learned relaxation techniques with their wives, or received no intervention. Massage therapy lowered the fathers’ self-reported anxiety levels on the STAI and improved marital adjustment on the DAS.