Migraine In Children: Emotional Abuse Is Linked To Migraines In Kids, According To Study

Many parents unknowingly cause emotional abuse on their kids. They say things to their kids that are hurtful and make them feel unloved and unwanted.

Emotional abuse does not only hurt the feelings of children but it could also harm their physical health and well-being. Medical Daily reports that emotional abuse might be linked to migraine in children, according to a new study presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 68th Annual Meeting in Canada.

The research involved the examination of data of more than 14,000 people aged 24 to 32. The research team from the University of Toledo asked the participants about their history of migraine, physical abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse.

The researchers found out that 14 percent of the participants were diagnosed with migraine and that 61 percent of the diagnosed participants have experienced abuse during their childhood. Among the three types of abuses -- physical, sexual and emotional -- it was emotional abuse that showed the biggest connection to the development of migraine. The participants who experienced emotional abuse were 52 percent more likely to develop migraines compared to those who did not experience that kind of abuse.

"Emotional abuse showed the strongest link to increased risk of migraine," study author Dr. Gretchen Tietjen stated in a press release. "Childhood abuse can have long-lasting effects on health and well-being."

Parents emotionally abuse their kids in several ways such as ignoring them, refusing to provide their material needs, being cold and unaffectionate, isolating them from socializations, teaching them inappropriate behaviors, neglecting their educational, mental and medical needs, as well as demeaning, shaming, embarrassing and threatening children, according to American Humane Association. Parents should never forget that emotional abuse can damage and hinder a child's emotional, mental, cognitive, social and spiritual development as well as cause migraine in children.