Childhood onset of migraine, gender, psychological distress and locus of control as predictors of migraine in adulthood.

MIGRAINE; COGNITION; SEX distribution; AGE factors in disease; LOCUS of control; EMPLOYMENT; SOCIAL classes; SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC factors; LOGISTIC regression analysis; PSYCHOLOGICAL distress; LONGITUDINAL method; EDUCATIONAL attainment; PARENTS; CHILDREN; ADULTS

This study explored a set of psychological and socio-demographic factors in childhood and adulthood associated with migraines assessed at age 42 years. Data were drawn from a large, nationally representative, prospective longitudinal study: the 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70). In total, 5628 cohort members with data on parental social class at birth, cognitive ability (intelligence), self-esteem and locus of control at age 10 years, psychological distress and educational qualifications at age 34, and current occupation at age 42 years were examined. We assessed whether or not they regularly experienced migraines at age 42 years. Logistic regression analysis showed that childhood migraine, gender and adult psychological distress, as well as childhood locus of control (for females only), were significant and independent predictors of the prevalence of migraine in adulthood. Childhood migraine seemed to have a long-lasting effect on adult migraine, and psychological distress also appeared to detrimentally affect adult migraine over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Psychology, Health & Medicine is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)