Abstract
Background and objectives: It is unknown whether bullying and gender diversity are associated with increased headache frequency in adolescents. Our study aimed to assess the association between peer victimization, gender diversity, and frequent recurrent headaches in adolescents, while controlling for age, sex, socioeconomic status, and potential confounders (mood and anxiety disorders, suicidality).
Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study of adolescents aged 12-17 using data from a Canadian population-based health survey. Headache frequency was dichotomized into ‘≤once/week’ or ‘>once/week’ (i.e. frequent recurrent headaches). Logistic regression was used to quantify the association between frequent peer victimization (overt or relational), gender diversity (female sex at birth+male gender, male sex at birth+female gender, or gender diverse), mood/anxiety disorder, suicidality, and the odds of frequent recurrent headaches. The fully adjusted multivariable logistic regression model included all exposures and was controlled for age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Bootstrap replicate weighting was used to account for survey design effects.
Results: There were an estimated 2,268,840 eligible participants (weighted sample size) (mean age=14.4y, 48.8% females, 0.5% gender diverse) and 11.2% reported frequent recurrent headaches. Frequent recurrent headaches were associated with older age (OR=1.26 per year of age, 95%CI=1.20-1.31), female sex (OR=2.89, 95%CI=2.47-3.37), and being gender diverse (OR=3.30, 95%CI=1.64-6.63, adjusted for age/sex). Youth with frequent headaches had higher odds of experiencing both overt and relational bullying compared to peers (OR=2.69, 95%CI=2.31-3.14, and OR=3.03, 95%CI=2.58-3.54, adjusted for age/sex). In the fully adjusted model, frequent headaches were no longer associated with gender diversity (OR=1.53, 95%CI=0.63-3.69), but were still associated with frequent overt and relational peer victimization (OR=1.82, 95%CI=1.41-2.34, and OR=1.54, 95%CI=1.17-2.03, respectively), suicidality (OR=1.83, 95%CI=1.44-2.32), and having a mood or anxiety disorder (OR=1.50, 95%CI=1.01-2.21, and OR=1.74, 95%CI=1.24-2.45, respectively). In a model adjusted for age, sex, and mood/anxiety disorders, the risk of suicidality increased incrementally with headache frequency.
Discussion: Peer victimization and suicidality may be associated with higher headache frequency in adolescents with headaches, independently of mood and anxiety symptoms. Gender diverse adolescents may have a higher risk of experiencing frequent headaches as compared to cisgender peers, and this may be explained by associated psychosocial factors (anxiety, depression, suicidality, peer victimization).
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Adolescents who have been bullied or who have considered or attempted suicide may be more likely to experience frequent headaches than their peers who have not experienced bullying or suicidality, according to study results published online ahead of print in Neurology.
“Headaches are a common problem for teenagers, but our study looked beyond the biological factors to also consider the psychological and social factors that are associated with headaches,” said study author Serena L. Orr, MD, MSc, of the University of Calgary in Canada. “Our findings suggest that bullying and attempting or considering suicide may be linked to frequent headaches in teenagers, independent of mood and anxiety disorders.”
More than 2.2 million Canadian adolescents, ages 12 through 17, were included in the observational study. Participants answered question about their headache frequency, mental health, peer victimization, and suicidality.
Some 11% of adolescents reported having frequent, recurring headaches, defined as one or more headaches per week. Meanwhile, 25% of participants reported being victims of frequent overt bullying, which spanned physical and verbal aggression as well as virtual threats, and 17% reported being victims of frequent relational bullying, such as exclusion, rumors, and having harmful information about them posted online. According to the study, 17% of participants reported considering or attempting suicide.
Analysis indicated that adolescents with frequent headaches were nearly 3 times more likely to have experienced bullying compared with their peers. Teens who had been bullied or had suicidal thoughts or attempts were nearly twice as likely to have frequent headaches. Teens with mood disorders were 50% more likely, and teens with anxiety disorders were 74% more likely, to have frequent headaches compared with peers.
A third of teens with frequent headaches had suicidal thoughts or attempts compared with 14% of teens without frequent headaches.
An association between gender diversity and frequent headaches dissolved after researchers adjusted for factors including being bullied or having a diagnosed mood or anxiety disorder.
“Though gender diverse teens appear to have a higher risk of frequent, recurring headaches, this association disappears after controlling for bullying, anxiety, depression, and suicidal tendencies, suggesting that perhaps gender diversity is not, in and of itself, related to frequent headaches, but that the psychosocial factors associated with it may explain this link,” said Dr Orr. “This is important information because these factors are preventable and treatable, and as such, must be examined further.”
https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/neuro/news/teens-headaches-report-increased-rates-bullying-suicidality
Adolescents who have been bullied or who have considered or attempted suicide may be more likely to experience frequent headaches than their peers who have not experienced bullying or suicidality, according to study results published online ahead of print in Neurology.
“Headaches are a common problem for teenagers, but our study looked beyond the biological factors to also consider the psychological and social factors that are associated with headaches,” said study author Serena L. Orr, MD, MSc, of the University of Calgary in Canada. “Our findings suggest that bullying and attempting or considering suicide may be linked to frequent headaches in teenagers, independent of mood and anxiety disorders.”
More than 2.2 million Canadian adolescents, ages 12 through 17, were included in the observational study. Participants answered question about their headache frequency, mental health, peer victimization, and suicidality.
Some 11% of adolescents reported having frequent, recurring headaches, defined as one or more headaches per week. Meanwhile, 25% of participants reported being victims of frequent overt bullying, which spanned physical and verbal aggression as well as virtual threats, and 17% reported being victims of frequent relational bullying, such as exclusion, rumors, and having harmful information about them posted online. According to the study, 17% of participants reported considering or attempting suicide.
Analysis indicated that adolescents with frequent headaches were nearly 3 times more likely to have experienced bullying compared with their peers. Teens who had been bullied or had suicidal thoughts or attempts were nearly twice as likely to have frequent headaches. Teens with mood disorders were 50% more likely, and teens with anxiety disorders were 74% more likely, to have frequent headaches compared with peers.
A third of teens with frequent headaches had suicidal thoughts or attempts compared with 14% of teens without frequent headaches.
An association between gender diversity and frequent headaches dissolved after researchers adjusted for factors including being bullied or having a diagnosed mood or anxiety disorder.
“Though gender diverse teens appear to have a higher risk of frequent, recurring headaches, this association disappears after controlling for bullying, anxiety, depression, and suicidal tendencies, suggesting that perhaps gender diversity is not, in and of itself, related to frequent headaches, but that the psychosocial factors associated with it may explain this link,” said Dr Orr. “This is important information because these factors are preventable and treatable, and as such, must be examined further.”
https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/neuro/news/teens-headaches-report-increased-rates-bullying-suicidality
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