How parent-infant interactions with music can improve health in early life
Official title: Effects of enriched parent-infant interaction on health in early life
Funded at Yale University · NIH-10988509 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how singing and making music together can help improve the mood and well-being of babies, especially for families looking for fun and easy ways to connect with their little ones.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $251,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD113998-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10988509 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are parent-infant dyads with infants aged 0 to 4 months.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who may not benefit from this research include families with infants older than 4 months or those not interested in music-based interventions.
What this research studies
This research investigates how enriching parent-infant interactions through music can positively impact the health of infants. It focuses on low-cost interventions that enhance the quality of these interactions, particularly through infant-directed singing. The study will involve parent-infant pairs, where they will be randomly assigned to different conditions to assess the effects of music on infant mood and overall well-being. By utilizing smartphone technology, the research aims to make these interventions easily accessible and effective for families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved mental and physical health outcomes for infants through enhanced parent-infant bonding.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results with similar music-based interventions for enhancing parent-infant interactions.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mehr, Samuel a — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Mehr, Samuel a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.