Emotional Experience and Regulation in Juvenile Primary Headaches: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

Abstract

A headache is the most common neurological symptom in children. Its subtypes are migraine (MH) and tension-type headache (TTH). Internalizing rather than externalizing symptoms are more frequent in children with headaches, but little is known about the reasons why. We aim to: (a) examine the interplay between emotional experience, affective regulation, and internalizing symptoms in children suffering from primary headaches and their caregivers; (b) identify potential predictors of children with migraines’ internalizing symptoms. Fifty children and adolescents with a diagnosis of primary headaches and their caregivers were compared to a sample of fifty-one healthy peers and caregivers. Self-reports and parent-reports were administered. Results indicate higher negative affect and internalizing symptoms and lower bodily awareness of emotions in the clinical sample (n = 50; Mage = 11.66, SD = 2.25) compared to controls (n = 51; Mage = 11.73, SD = 2.32); mothers of TTH children self-reported lower emotional awareness and higher difficulties in engaging in goal-directed behavior; a higher frequency of headaches was associated with greater emotional regulation difficulties. Internalizing symptoms were predicted by higher self-reported negative affect and parent-reported internalizing symptoms, and lower self-reported ability in the verbal sharing of emotions. These findings suggest the importance of assessing the psychological features linked to children with primary headaches’ psychological well-being.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic era on children with primary headache: a questionnaire survey study and literature review

“…They suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic led to increase in internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and a higher level of stress in parents can be related to the internalizing symptoms of their children ( 32 ). Primary headaches has a higher prevalence of internalizing symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and somatic complaints ( 33 ). However, our study confirmed that “depressive mood” and “conflict with family” were relatively less affected by COVID-19 than other items because most of the participants were elementary and middle school students.…”

Headache and Psychological Comorbidities: An Appraisal of the Evidence

“…A recent cross-sectional study compared children with primary headache and their mothers/caregivers to a matched control group and made an assessment of parents and children for emotional awareness using the Emotion Awareness Questionnaire, emotional experience using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and psychological adjustment using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire [ 40 ]. High headache frequency, regardless of the headache subtype, was closely related to the child’s emotional well-being.…”

“…High headache frequency, regardless of the headache subtype, was closely related to the child’s emotional well-being. Also interestingly, the mother of children with high-frequency headaches had experienced less emotional clarity (DERS), and their children experienced overall more adjustment difficulties [ 40 ].…”