The Relationship Between Psychosocial and Behavioral Factors and Fatigue in Migraine Patients

Purpose: Migraine is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent headaches often accompanied by fatigue. Fatigue is one of the most disabling symptoms experienced by migraine patients, yet it remains underexplored. This study examined the relationship between fatigue and psychosocial and behavioral factors in migraine patients.

Method: This cross-sectional study included patients aged 18–55 years who were diagnosed with migraine. The Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire (MIDAS) was used to assess migraine-related disability, and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) was used to assess fatigue. Psychosocial factors were evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for depressive mood, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) for pain-related catastrophizing, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) for self-efficacy. Behavioral factors were assessed using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep patterns, the Motivation for Healthy Eating Scale (MHES) for nutritional attitude, and the 36-Item Self-Reported Physical Activity Behavior (SPAB) questionnaire for physical activity levels.

Results: There were moderate correlations between fatigue (MFIS) and depressive mood, pain catastrophizing, self-efficacy, and sleep quality (ρ = 0.318, 0.371, 0.371, and 0.403, respectively).

Conclusion: Fatigue in migraine patients appears to be closely associated with psychosocial and behavioral factors, emphasizing the importance of a holistic, biopsychosocial approach in clinical management. Fatigue in migraine patients is related to psychosocial and behavioral factors, including depressive mood, pain catastrophizing, self-efficacy, and sleep quality, all of which should be evaluated for appropriate management.

Key Words: Migraine, fatigue, biopsychosocial, psychosocial factors, behavioral factors