Parent Engagement Correlates With Parent and Preterm Infant Oxytocin Release During Skin-to-Skin Contact.

Background: Preterm infants remain increasingly neurodevelopmentally disadvantaged. Parental touch, especially during skin-to-skin contact (SSC), has potential to reduce adverse consequences.

Purpose: To examine relationships between parental engagement and salivary oxytocin and cortisol levels for parents participating in SSC intervention.