Year: 2025 | Month: November | Volume: 12 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 201-209
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20251123
Mindfulness as a Predictor of Migraine-Related Disability: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Study
Nandana K Nair1, Arathi Mukundan1, Sathya Rajkumar1, Dr. Hunny Kalra2
1MSc Psychology Student, Department of Psychology, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
2Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Corresponding Author: Dr Hunny Kalra
ABSTRACT
Background: Migraines are prevalent neurological disorders characterized by severe headaches, nausea, and heightened sensory sensitivities, often triggered by various environmental and physiological factors. Although not life-threatening, migraines can significantly impair daily functioning and are associated with increased cardiovascular risk, particularly in cases with aura. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the association between mindfulness and migraine-related disability and to explore whether mindfulness may alleviate migraine impact by reducing stress.
Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed involving 110 adults with clinically diagnosed migraines, aged 18 to 65 years, recruited through purposive sampling. Participants completed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and the Migraine Disability Assessment. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, and linear regression analyses.
Results: There was a significant negative correlation between mindfulness and migraine-related disability (r = −0.334, p<.001), indicating that higher mindfulness is associated with lower disability. Regression analysis confirmed mindfulness as a significant negative predictor of migraine-related disability (β=−0.334), accounting for 11.2% of the variance (R2=0.112).
Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential of mindfulness-based interventions as non-pharmacological strategies to reduce migraine-related disability by mitigating stress and pain perception. Future research should investigate the neurological and physiological mechanisms underlying this association to inform the development of personalized migraine treatments.
Keywords: Migraine, Mindfulness, Migraine Disability, Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-Based Interventions
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