When Migraine Meets People: A Qualitative Study on the Negative and Positive Influences of Episodic Migraine on Interpersonal Relationships

Background: Episodic migraine carries a significant social burden beyond medical symptoms that disrupt interpersonal relationships with family, friends, and coworkers. This study aimed to explore its influence on interpersonal relationships from the perspective of patients. Method: A sample of N = 20 participants, including 10 males and 10 females, with an age range of 27 to 32 years, was engaged in semi-structured interviews. A reflexive thematic approach within a post-positivist framework was used to explore themes derived from qualitative data. Results: The analysis revealed a predominance of adverse impacts across the data, including work and productivity challenges (sub-themes: social and activity restrictions, impaired functioning at work, workplace stigma, and pressure) and interpersonal conflict and strain (sub-themes: reactions from friends and family, family life, and communication barriers). However, the results indicated positive impacts under the theme of growth (sub-themes: strengthened relationships and growth and adaptation). Network visualization was employed to represent these themes, with numeric codes (0 and 1) used to indicate the absence or presence of specific sub-themes in individual responses. The size of each node in the network was based on its dominance and significance in the analysis. Conclusion: This study highlighted that episodic migraine significantly disrupts interpersonal relationships. However, it can also strengthen interpersonal bonds and foster growth in some individuals. Future research should examine how interpersonal relationships function both as a source of strain and a potential source of strength. Understanding the factors contributing to growth and adaptation may offer valuable insights for individualized migraine management strategies.