Emotional Experience and Regulation in Juvenile Primary Headaches: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study
Marina Miscioscia,
Daniela Di Riso,
Silvia Spaggiari,
Mikael Poli,
Giacomo Gaiga,
Giacomo Randazzo,
Maria Federica Pelizza,
Laura Galdiolo,
Alessia Raffagnato,
Stefano Sartori,
Irene Toldo
Affiliations
Marina Miscioscia
Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy
Daniela Di Riso
Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy
Silvia Spaggiari
Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy
Mikael Poli
Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy
Giacomo Gaiga
Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy
Giacomo Randazzo
Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy
Maria Federica Pelizza
Neuropsychiatric Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy
Laura Galdiolo
Neuropsychiatric Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy
Alessia Raffagnato
Neuropsychiatric Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy
Stefano Sartori
Juvenile Headache Center, Pediatric Neurology and Neurophysiology Unit, Department of Woman’s and Child’s Health, University Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy
Irene Toldo
Juvenile Headache Center, Pediatric Neurology and Neurophysiology Unit, Department of Woman’s and Child’s Health, University Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padova, Italy
A headache is the most common neurological symptom in children. Its subtypes are migraine (MH) and tension-type headache (TTH). Internalizing rather than externalizing symptoms are more frequent in children with headaches, but little is known about the reasons why. We aim to: (a) examine the interplay between emotional experience, affective regulation, and internalizing symptoms in children suffering from primary headaches and their caregivers; (b) identify potential predictors of children with migraines’ internalizing symptoms. Fifty children and adolescents with a diagnosis of primary headaches and their caregivers were compared to a sample of fifty-one healthy peers and caregivers. Self-reports and parent-reports were administered. Results indicate higher negative affect and internalizing symptoms and lower bodily awareness of emotions in the clinical sample (n = 50; Mage = 11.66, SD = 2.25) compared to controls (n = 51; Mage = 11.73, SD = 2.32); mothers of TTH children self-reported lower emotional awareness and higher difficulties in engaging in goal-directed behavior; a higher frequency of headaches was associated with greater emotional regulation difficulties. Internalizing symptoms were predicted by higher self-reported negative affect and parent-reported internalizing symptoms, and lower self-reported ability in the verbal sharing of emotions. These findings suggest the importance of assessing the psychological features linked to children with primary headaches’ psychological well-being.
