The Effect of Migraine Headache on Educational Attainment

Abstract

Despite the fact that migraine headaches are common and debilitating, little is known about their effect on educational attainment. Using data drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we estimate the relationship between migraine headache and three outcomes: high school grade point average, the probability of graduating high school, and the probability of attending college. Our results provide evidence that migraine headache negatively impacts human capital accumulation. The relationship between migraine headache and educational attainment is explained, in part, through its effect on school absences and the respondent’s self-reported ability to pay attention in class and complete homework.