Association of Smartphone Screen Time and Digital Device Use with Migraine Frequency and Severity in Young Adults

Background: Migraine is a common disabling neurological disorder among young adults and may adversely affect academic, occupational, and social functioning. Increasing dependence on smartphones and other digital devices has raised concerns regarding the potential effects of prolonged screen exposure on migraine. This study evaluated the association of smartphone screen time and digital-device use with migraine frequency and severity among young adults. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 90 young adults with migraine. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, smartphone and total digital screen exposure, nighttime smartphone use, sleep duration, and uninterrupted screen use were recorded. Migraine frequency, headache intensity using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), attack duration, and migraine-related disability using the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) were assessed. Correlation and multivariable regression analyses were performed, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age was 24.6 ± 3.5 years, and 62.2% were females. The median migraine frequency was 7 days/month, mean VAS score was 6.7 ± 1.6, and median MIDAS score was 14. Migraine days increased from 4 among participants with <4 hours/day of smartphone use to 9 among those with >6 hours/day (p<0.001). Correspondingly, VAS increased from 5.5 to 7.3 and MIDAS from 8 to 20 (both p<0.001). Smartphone screen time correlated significantly with migraine frequency (r=0.52), VAS (r=0.44), MIDAS (r=0.47), and attack duration (r=0.31). Smartphone screen time remained independently associated with greater migraine burden (β=0.41, p<0.001). Conclusion: Greater smartphone and digital screen exposure was significantly associated with increased migraine frequency, severity, duration, and disability. Healthy screen-use practices may represent an important adjunct to migraine management in young adults.

Keywords: Migraine; Smartphone; Screen time; Digital devices; Young adults; MIDAS; Headache severity.