Examination of Risk Factors for Migraine Headache in a College Student Population

Abstract

Some data indicate that migraine headaches significantly affect the college student population. The purpose of this study is to examine risk factors across four categories of variables: sociodemographic variables (age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and family history), personality variables (neuroticism), lifestyle factors (blood pressure, exercise, smoking, and substance abuse) and stress responding (recent stressful life events, daily hassles and psychological distress (anxiety and depression)). These variables were examined in 131 migraine and non-migraine experiencing college students at the University of Nevada, Reno. Measures used included Sociodemographic and Medical Information Sheet, Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire, the Survey of Recent Life Experiences and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. The findings indicate that more college students with high blood pressure, anxiety and depression have migraine headaches than college students without migraines, suggesting that high blood pressure, anxiety and depression are risk factors that are associated with migraine headaches.