Esra Kochan KIZILKILIÇ, Bekir Burak KILBOZ, Metehan KARAHOCA, Elif ÜNAL, Tugrul AYDIN, Serap ÜÇLER
Neurological Sciences and Neurophysiology - 2026;43(2):85-92
Background: Migraine is a significant cause of disability, especially in women and adults aged 25-55 years. Biobehavioral techniques provide nonpharmacologic strategies that circumvent the undesirable effects of medications. The acceptance of pain is becoming recognized in migraine management, yet headache-specific assessments remain limited. The Headache Acceptance Questionnaire (HAQ) addresses this gap as a headache-specific measure of pain acceptance. Following translation and cultural adaptation, we evaluated the correlation between HAQ scores and migraine-related impairment. Methods: In a cross-sectional cohort from a tertiary clinic (February to December 2024), the six-item HAQ was translated and adapted per standard guidance. We included 184 patients with migraine (156 women). Correlations tested associations between HAQ and disability indices, specifically the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), and the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS). Results: The Turkish HAQ demonstrated excellent content and structural validity (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin = 0.89; Bartlett P < 0.001). A good fit was achieved on two-factor structure on factor analyses. Reliability was high (Cronbach's alpha = 0.91; intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.99). HAQ scores showed strong inverse correlations with MIDAS (r = -0.73, P < 0.001) and HIT-6 ( r = -0.86, P < 0.001), indicating that greater acceptance corresponded with lower disability. Conclusions: The Turkish HAQ is a valid, reliable instrument for headache-specific acceptance. Higher acceptance aligns with less migraine-related disability, underscoring clinical utility and the relevance of acceptance-based therapies.
