The Social Life of Migraine: A Meta-Ethnography of Lived Experience in Adults With Migraine
Abstract
Background: Migraine is a common and disabling neurological disorder that affects physical, emotional, and social functioning. Despite its prevalence, it remains under-recognized and stigmatized. Understanding the lived experience of migraine is essential to inform person-centred care and improve health system responsiveness.
Objectives: To synthesize qualitative research on how adults experience, interpret, and cope with migraine, and to develop an interpretive model of its lived experience.
Methods: We conducted a meta-ethnography following Noblit and Hare's seven-phase approach, guided by the PRISMA 2020 and eMERGe reporting standards. Five databases were searched from inception to April 2025 for qualitative studies exploring the lived experience of adults with migraine. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and appraised methodological quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. Concepts were translated across studies and developed into a line-of-argument synthesis to generate higher-order interpretations.
Results: Forty-six studies were included, covering North America, Europe, Asia, and Australasia, with most participants being women. Four overarching domains were identified. First, embodied disruption and uncertainty captured migraine as an unpredictable and intrusive condition that fragmented bodily control and everyday life. Second, negotiating stigma and social legitimacy described the burden of living with an…
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