Examining the Impact of Stigma in Migraine On Treatment Seeking Behaviors, Migraine Concealment, And Psychological Well-Being

Migraine is a chronic neurological disease that affects 12% of people in the U.S. and contributes to a major public health burden, costing an estimated $23 billion. Unfortunately, stigma surrounding migraine is widespread, with 89% of people with migraine reporting experiencing stigma, and 32% saying they experience it often or very often.

Stigma is a social phenomenon whereby people with an identified characteristic —in this case, migraine—are labeled as different, leading to negative judgment, rejection, or discrimination. The impact of migraine stigma can be severe: people who experience the highest levels of stigma are more than twice as likely to be disabled by their condition. This is especially concerning because migraine is the second leading cause of disability worldwide.

Early research suggests that stigma impacts how people with migraine make treatment decisions and affects psychological well-being. Our study aims to examine this in depth using the OVERCOME dataset, which tracks the experiences of people with migraine over two years. By understanding how stigma affects treatment choices and psychological well-being, we can find better ways to reduce stigma and its harmful effects.

Specifically, this project will assess how migraine stigma influences treatment seeking behaviors, the tendency to conceal migraine, and overall psychological well-being. Using the two-year data from OVERCOME, we will examine how stigma at the start of the study impacts these factors over time. This will allow us to draw stronger causal inferences on how stigma leads to worse behavioral and psychological outcomes. Additionally, we will study two different forms of stigma: perceived stigma (feeling discredited/devalued by others) and enacted stigma (experiences of discrimination). This will allow us to see how each type of stigma affects people differently.

By identifying the effects of stigma on treatment and well-being, we hope to inform efforts to reduce migraine stigma and improve the lives of those living with this condition.