Migraine & Parenting: How Chronic Migraine in Parents Affects Children

Living with migraine is tough. When a parent has chronic migraine, the challenges ripple through the entire family—especially children. Research shows that kids may face emotional stress, changes in family routines, school difficulties, and even long-term health impacts. Let’s look at what the science says.

Emotional and Mental Health

Children of parents with chronic migraine often carry a heavy emotional load.

• In a U.S. survey of over 1,000 adolescents, kids of parents with chronic migraine reported much higher rates of anxiety and sadness compared to peers whose parent had episodic migraine .
• A 2024 study found these children had a higher risk of ADHD, depression, and bipolar disorder, especially when the mother was affected .
• Younger children sometimes feel confused or even scared during a parent’s migraine attack, while teens report worry and sadness seeing their parent in pain .

Family Life and Caregiving

When migraine strikes, family routines often stop.

• More than 60% of parents with migraine said they had to stop caring for their children during an attack .
• Many parents admit they would be “better parents” if migraine wasn’t part of their lives .
• Some kids take on adult responsibilities—caring for siblings, doing chores, or providing emotional support—creating a role reversal that can weigh heavily on them .

Conflicts also rise. Parents in pain may become more irritable, and normal household noise can worsen headaches. That tension can make children feel guilty, frustrated, or isolated.

School and Social Life

Migraine doesn’t just affect home life—it spills into school and friendships.

• Teens with a parent who has chronic migraine were more than twice as likely to struggle with concentration at school .
• Many reported missing sports, social events, or family outings because of a parent’s migraine .
• About a third of families said their child missed or was late to school because of migraine‐related disruptions .

This can leave kids feeling left out, academically behind, or resentful that their lives are limited by their parent’s condition.

Physical Health and Development

Migraine runs in families. If one parent has migraine, the child’s chance of developing it is about 40–50%. If both parents have it, the risk can be as high as 75% .

Chronic stress at home can also contribute to physical complaints in children—headaches, stomachaches, or sleep issues. Still, not all outcomes are negative. Some children develop empathy, independence, and resilience from growing up with a parent in pain .

Trauma and Long-Term Impact

For some children, living with a chronically ill parent feels like an adverse childhood experience (ACE). Constant worry, caregiving burdens, or missing out on normal childhood activities can create lasting stress.

Long-term, these kids may face higher risks of mental health issues or chronic pain themselves. But with support—therapy, extended family, open communication—they can thrive.

Takeaway

Parental migraine affects kids in real and measurable ways. They may feel anxious, take on extra responsibilities, miss school, or even develop their own health challenges. But awareness is powerful. With support, children can build resilience and live healthy, balanced lives.

If you’re a parent living with chronic migraine, know that help is available—not only for you, but for your family. At Haven Headache & Migraine Center, we believe caring for parents also means supporting children.

Book a visit with Haven to learn how we can help your whole family.

Sources

1. Buse DC, et al. Perspectives of Adolescents on the Burden of Their Parent’s Migraine. American Headache Society – CaMEO Study (2016). Link
2. Li DJ, et al. Risk of major mental disorders in the offspring of parents with migraine. Annals of General Psychiatry. 2024. Link
3. Seng EK, et al. CaMEO Family Burden Module. Headache. 2019. Link
4. Chitnis D. Chronic migraine found to have negative impact on parenting. MDedge, 2019. Link
5. Fagan MA. Exploring the relationship between maternal migraine and child functioning. Headache. 2003. Link
6. Migraine Disorders Association. Does migraine run in families? Link
7. Higgins KS, et al. Offspring of parents with chronic pain: A review. Pain. 2015. Link

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