Perceived Stress and Migraine Severity among Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey

Migraine is one of the leading causes of disability among young adults, and stress is the trigger most often reported by people who experience headaches. This study examined whether perceived stress is associated with headache-related disability and headache severity among young adults aged 18 to 36 years. A cross-sectional online survey was distributed through social media and WhatsApp during August and September 2026. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) and a 0 to 10 headache severity rating. Of 50 responses, 36 met the inclusion criteria (18 women, 18 men; mean age 26 years), of whom 20 reported migraine or recurring headaches. Spearman rank correlation showed no significant association between perceived stress and headache severity (ρ = .05, p = .79) or between perceived stress and MIDAS disability (ρ = .13, p = .47). Participants with headaches reported significantly greater disability (p = .001) and severity (p < .001) than those without, but did not differ significantly in perceived stress (p = .18). The small sample, approximated MIDAS totals and low internal consistency of the PSS-10 in this sample (? = .54) limit the conclusions, and the study could detect only strong associations. Larger studies of clinically diagnosed young adults using within-person designs are recommended.