Multidimensional Associations with the Experience of Migraines in a Demographically Representative Sample of U.S. Adults

Thursday, October 23, 2025

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM MT

Location: Open Kiosks

Has Audio

Primary Author(s)

Kyle Agostini, Other

OMS-III
Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Holly Springs, North Carolina

Poster Presenter(s)

Delaney Christensen, Other (she/her/hers)

Co-author
Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine, North Carolina

Co-Author(s)

Thomas M. Motyka, DO, MHPE, MSc, FACP (he/him/his)

Assoicate Professor and Chair of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
Campbell University
Buies Creek, North Carolina
JC

James J. Cappola, III, MD

Chair and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Buies Creek, North Carolina

Disclosure(s):

Kyle Agostini, Other: No financial relationships to disclose

Delaney Christensen, Other: No financial relationships to disclose

Thomas M. Motyka, DO, MHPE, MSc, FACP: No financial relationships to disclose

Background and/or Objectives:

Background: Migraine headaches demonstrate complex associations with demographic, medical, and psychological factors, but prior studies have inadequately modeled comprehensive relationships. Better understanding these associations can enhance preventative risk stratification and identify clinical drivers of morbidity.

Objective: To identify demographic, medical, and psychological factors associated with migraine headaches in a nationally representative U.S. sample.

Design: An online quota-controlled cross-sectional survey (N=3,022), matched to 2024 U.S. census demographics, captured medical histories, socioeconomic data, and psychological assessments (Big Five Inventory—Openness and Neuroticism, Locus of Control Scale, Thought Impact Scale [TIS]). Analyses included Pearson Chi-Square, Welch t-tests, and multivariable logistic regression.

Setting : Participants completed surveys online at their convenience.

Participants : A demographically representative sample of U.S. adults enrolled via an online survey platform.

Interventions: Demographic, medical, and psychological variables were collected and analyzed across groups.

Main Outcome Measures: Differences in proportion or means of demographic, medical, and psychological variables among those with and without migraine headaches.

Results: Significant bivariate associations existed between migraines and demographic factors: younger age (p <.001), female sex (p <.001), race (p=.001), education (p=.003), employment status (p=.003), and income (p <.001). Medical associations included prior stroke (OR=2.367 [1.448-3.869]), low back pain (OR=3.232 [2.598-4.021]), chronic pain (OR=1.474 [1.159-1.875]), chronic fatigue syndrome (OR=1.790 [1.225-2.613]), fibromyalgia (OR=2.248 [1.468-3.441]), and depression (OR=1.562 [1.202-2.031]). Among psychometric scales, only TIS remained significantly predictive (OR=1.018 [1.009-1.027]).

Conclusions: The adjusted logistic regression showed that there were many significant demographic, medical and psychological associations with having experienced a migraine in the last year. Future studies should expand on psychometric scales included and incorporate a longitudinal design.