Cross-sectional associations of sleep timing and eating behavior factors with migraine in a predominantly female adult sample

This exploratory study aimed to better ascertain specific features of sleep and eating behaviors associated with migraine. A cross-sectional case-control approach was used with an online convenience sample; 86 individuals with migraine and 74 non-migraine individuals (mean age = 44 y.o., 90% female) were recruited via social media and university students in Ireland/UK between July 2023 and July 2024. Migraine status was determined by self-report of prior diagnosis by a health-care practitioner; no ICHD-3 interviews were performed. Individuals with migraine showed significantly lower self-regulation (2.95 ± .04 vs 3.17 ± .09, d = .45), reduced food fussiness (3.04 ± .08 vs. 2.4 ± .10, d = .84), and increased hunger (3.30 ± .08 vs. 3.00 ± .08, d = -.41). Both workdays (7:36 h ± 0:09 h vs. 6:57 h ± 0:09 h, d = -.52) and weekly average sleep duration (7:19 h ± 0:09 h vs. 7:44 h ± 0:08 h, d = -0.34) was significantly longer in individuals with migraine. Non-adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed that longer workday sleep duration (OR = .1.69 (95% CI = 1.12, -2.55), p = 0.013) was associated with increased odds of a migraine diagnosis; while greater self-regulation of eating (OR = 0.28, 95% CI (0.092, 0.88), p = 0.028) and greater food fussiness were associated with reduced odds of a migraine diagnosis (OR = 0.29, 95% CI (0.154, 0.54), p < 0.001). Additional intragroup results for individuals with migraine are also presented.