Self-reported headache frequency and features associated with frequent headaches in Canadian young adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the associated factors for frequent headache among young adolescent Canadians.


METHODS
We analyzed the self-administered questionnaire microdata files of the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY: 1996 to 1997). Two thousand and ninety respondents representing 793,100 Canadian youth aged 12 to 13 years were asked how often they had headaches in the previous 6 months.


RESULTS
Of the 2090 adolescents, 1998 (96%) responded. Frequent headaches of "about once a week" or more often were reported by 26.6% of them aged 12 to 13 years (95% CI: 24.2, 28.6). Frequent headaches appear to be associated with a plethora of risk factors germane to the life experience of these young adolescents. All factors were significant at P <.0001 by chi-square analysis and can be loosely categorized as school-related, lifestyle-related, or involving mental health. A multivariate Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis models frequent headaches on a depression scale, a self-esteem scale, and ever having smoked, with 60% sensitivity, and 65% specificity.


CONCLUSIONS
The NLSCY reveals a remarkable insight into headache frequency and the life experience of Canada's young adolescents with frequent headaches.
Gordon
K E
KE
Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, and IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Dooley
J M
JM
Wood
E P
EP
D000293:Adolescent; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires