Parent-Child Bonds and Heart Rate: Keys to Easing Teen Migraines

Research Summary

A recent study published in Children (Basel) explores the link between relational factors and somatic symptoms in adolescents with migraines. Researchers examined the role of attachment-related anxiety and avoidance towards parents, alongside vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV), in predicting the severity of these symptoms. Involving 61 adolescents aged 11-17, the study found that higher somatic symptom severity was significantly associated with both attachment anxiety and avoidance toward parents. Notably, attachment avoidance toward fathers fully mediated the relationship between lower vmHRV and increased somatic complaints. These results suggest the potential of combining attachment-focused and physiological interventions for treating pediatric migraines.

Study Details

📄 Title: Vagally Mediated Heart Rate Variability and Attachment-Related Avoidance in Pediatric Migraine: A Mediated Pathway to Somatic Symptoms Severity.

👥 Research Team: Cellucci F et al.

📚 Published In: Children (Basel)

📅 Publication Date: 2025 Nov 25

⚕️ Medical Disclaimer: This summary is generated automatically from recent migraine research. Always consult with healthcare professionals for medical advice.