Illness Uncertainty and Intrusiveness in Adolescent and Young Adult Women with Self-Reported Chronic Migraines

ABSTRACT

Background

Chronic migraines result in debilitating pain requiring complex and multifaceted daily management, including acting purposefully to attenuate symptoms and decrease impairment. Experiencing migraines may be more psychologically challenging for adolescent and young adult (AYA) women due to complex and recurrent stressors.

Purpose

This study examined the relationships between illness specific cognitive appraisal mechanisms (i.e., illness uncertainty and illness intrusiveness) and psychological adjustment (i.e., anxious and depressive symptoms) in AYA women with self-reported chronic migraines.

Methods

AYA women (N = 74, M_age = 20.19, SD = 3.41) with chronic migraines completed measures of illness uncertainty, illness intrusiveness, anxious, and depressive symptoms.

Results

Two hierarchical regression analyses indicated that illness uncertainty (B = .44, p < .001) and intrusiveness (B = .27, p = .026) significantly predicted anxious, F(4, 68) = 12.83, p < .001, and depressive symptoms, F(4, 68) = 8.48, p < .001, B = .31, p = .021 and B = .27, p = .037.

Discussion

Greater illness uncertainty and illness intrusiveness were associated with greater anxious and depressive symptoms. Thus, it may be that AYA women who experience chronic migraines have increased perceptions of ambiguity, unpredictability, and disruption to their life that significantly contribute to their psychological adjustment outcomes.

Translation to Health Education Practice

This study demonstrates a need for health education on the role of illness related cognitive appraisal mechanisms for AYA women with chronic migraines.

A AJHE Self-Study quiz is online for this article via the SHAPE America Online Institute (SAOI)http://portal.shapeamerica.org/trn-Webinars

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data and materials will be provided upon reasonable request.

Ethics approval

The questionnaires and methodology utilized in this study were approved by the Human Research Ethics committee of Oklahoma State University (IRB #: AS-19-89).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded in part by the Vaughn Vennerberg II Endowment.