Digital Media Use in Adolescents with Migraine: A Topical Review

In this topical review, we aim to (1) overview relevant theoretical models on the impact of digital media use on adolescent health and well-being, (2) propose a new conceptual framework for considering digital media use in adolescent migraine, and (3) highlight future directions for research and clinical care in this area.

Theoretical models on the impact of digital media on adolescent health and well-being have shifted away from screen time duration in favor of ecological approaches viewing youth digital media use through a developmental systems lens. Although adolescents with migraine are known high users of digital media, little is known about their context and motivations of use to inform clinical practice. We propose an integrative framework of digital media use in pediatric migraine that considers reciprocal interactions of individual, parent/family, and structural digital media use factors in relation to migraine symptoms and associated disability, as well as potential moderators such as age, sex, sleep, and mental health. Research on problematic and adaptive digital media use in adolescents with migraine is needed to determine whether and how to tailor clinical recommendations for digital media use in the general adolescent population to address the unique treatment needs of adolescents with migraine.