An electronic daily diary process study of stress and health behavior triggers of primary headaches in children.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-2011
Identifier
DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsr017
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine through a daily process study whether alleged psychological and health behavior headache triggers reliably predict headache occurrence in children.
METHODS: Twenty-five children aged 8-17 years with primary headaches reported on their expectancies for headache triggers and then used electronic diaries three times daily for 2 weeks to record headache occurrence, stressors, type and timing of food and drink intake, sleep and wake times, and sleep quality. Hypotheses pertaining to the association of presumed headache triggers and headache occurrence were evaluated using multilevel models.
RESULTS: Only changes in stress level reliably preceded the occurrence of a new headache episode. Nights in which a child had less than his/her typical sleep quantity also tended to predict headache occurrence. Consumption of certain food and drink items was found to be protective.
CONCLUSIONS: Daily stressors seem to be a more reliable trigger of children's headaches than diet or sleep factors.
Journal Title
Journal of pediatric psychology
Volume
36
Issue
8
First Page
852
Last Page
862
MeSH Keywords
Adolescent; Child; Female; Headache; Health Behavior; Humans; Male; Precipitating Factors; Sleep; Stress, Psychological
Keywords
Headache; Health Behavior; Precipitating Factors; Sleep; Stress
Recommended Citation
Connelly, M., Bickel, J. An electronic daily diary process study of stress and health behavior triggers of primary headaches in children. Journal of pediatric psychology 36, 852-862 (2011).
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