Background: Research has shown that emotional intelligence and anger are significant predictors of both subjective and objective health. The present study aimed to draw a comparison between migraine patients and healthy individuals in terms of emotional intelligence and anger. In addition, there was an attempt to investigate the predictive role of emotional intelligence and anger in chronic migraine.

Methods: This comparative study was carried out on ۴۹۴ individuals including patients with chronic migraine (n=۲۵۰) and healthy controls (n=۲۴۴) in Shiraz between August ۲۰۱۹ and February ۲۰۲۰. The participants with chronic migraine and healthy controls were selected using convenience sampling and multistage sampling, respectively. Participants completed validated self-report questionnaires: Bradberry and Greaves emotional intelligence test and the provocation inventory. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version ۲۲.۰) and chi-square test, t test and logistic regression were used. The significance level was set at P<۰.۰۵.

Results: The results of independent t-test indicated and chi-square test, t test and logistic regression were used. The significance level was set at P<۰.۰۵ that the mean intensity of anger was significantly higher among the patients with migraine (۵۱.۵۲±۱۵.۶۶) compared to the healthy controls (۲۸.۳۹±۹.۸۵) (P<۰.۰۰۱). The mean score of emotional intelligence was significantly lower among the patients with migraine (۷۵.۹۲±۸.۲۳) in comparison to the healthy controls (۱۱۶.۲۳±۱۲.۲۸) (P<۰.۰۰۱). Binary logistic regression revealed that neither age (P=۰.۷۲), sex (P=۰.۶۲), marital status (P=۰.۶۳) and education level (P=۰.۶۸), nor anger (P=۰.۲۴) was significantly associated with chronic migraine. However, emotional intelligence had a negative association with chronic migraine (B=-۱.۱۳, OR=۰.۳۲, P<۰.۰۰۱).

Conclusion: The results showed that a low level of emotional intelligence was associated with chronic migraine. The current results could help clinicians in planning for successful pain management/ prevention programs.

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