The Mediating Role of Perceived Stress in the Relationship between Personality Traits and Negative Automatic Thoughts in Adolescents with Migraine

Abstract

Background: The literature investigating adolescents with chronic headaches, particularly migraines, illustrated the crucial role played by a wide range of psychological problems. In addition, groundbreaking studies have shown that preexisting personality traits are important to accelerate the likelihood of migraine onset, maintenance, and outcome. This study aimed to investigate dimensions of perceived stress as a mediating role in relation to personality traits and negative automatics thought, in an adolescent with migraine. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, the participants consisted of patients with chronic migraine referring to the two neurology clinics in Ahvaz City, Iran from 2019 to 2020. A diverse sample of patients (n =200) completed the Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale, NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), and Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ-N). To analyze the obtained data SPSS V. 21 and Amos 18 were used. Results: Based on the standard path coefficients and the significance level, the relationship between personality traits and the negative dimension of perceived stress (β = -46, P≥ 0.001), personality traits and the positive dimension of perceived stress (β = 0.44, P≥ 0.001), The negative dimension of perceived stress to negative spontaneous thoughts (β = 0.45, P≥ 0.008), and The positive dimension of perceived stress to negative automatic thoughts is (β = -0.28, P≥ 0.004) were significant. Conclusion: According to the results, the indirect relationship between personality traits and n negative automatic thoughts was established and significant through the negative dimension of perceived stress. Moreover, the indirect relationship between personality traits and negative automatic thoughts was established and significant through the positive dimension of perceived stress.