Prevalence of Menstrual Migraine among university students and its impact on quality of life: a cross-sectional study

Wong, Jing Ni (2024) Prevalence of Menstrual Migraine among university students and its impact on quality of life: a cross-sectional study. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

Background: Menstrual migraines, associated with hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, are a common but underrecognized condition. They can significantly impair daily functioning and quality of life, yet research into their prevalence and impact among university students remains limited, particularly in Malaysia. This study aims to address this gap by exploring the prevalence of menstrual migraines in this population and their effects on physical and mental health, highlighting the importance of tailored interventions to improve well-being. Objective: This study investigated the prevalence of menstrual migraines among Malaysian female university students aged 18–25 and their impact on quality of life. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 384 participants used convenience sampling. Data were collected via an online survey incorporating demographic questions, the Menstrual Migraine Assessment Tool (MMAT), and the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12). Pearson’s correlation analysed the relationship between menstrual migraines and quality of life using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26. Results: The study involved 384 female university students aged 18 to 25, with 30.2% (n=116) reporting menstrual migraines. Participants with menstrual migraines had lower SF-12 Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores compared to those without, with mean PCS and MCS scores of 43.3±5.91 and 38.6±8.21, respectively and an overall SF-12 score of 77.3±6.66. Mental health decline was more pronounced. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed a fair negative correlation between menstrual migraines (MMAT) and quality of life (SF-12) (r= -0.347, p <0.05), indicating that menstrual migraines reduced quality of life. Conclusion: Menstrual migraines are prevalent among female university students and adversely affect their quality of life, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to support their well-being and academic performance. Keywords: Prevalence, Menstrual Migraine, University Students, Quality of Life

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