Psychosomatic and psychosocial symptoms are associated with low blood pressure in Swedish schoolchildren

Background: The relation between psychosomatic and psychosocial symptoms and blood pressure was studied in Swedish schoolchildren. Methods: Blood pressure was measured in 122 healthy Swedish schoolchildren, aged 6-16 years. Psychosomatic and psychosocial symptoms, delinquent behaviour, parental health and employment status were assessed. Results: Children with systolic blood pressure above +1 SD of mean reported significantly less symptoms ((x) over bar = 1.4) than children with blood pressure below -1 SD of the mean ((x) over bar = 2.7; p < 0.05). Children with three or more self-reported symptoms had significantly lower blood pressure than children without symptoms both in the supine (110 +/- 12 vs. 120 +/- 18 mm Hg; p < 0.05) and in the standing position (117 +/- 17 vs. 127 +/- 18 mm Hg; p < 0.05). Conclusions: We conclude that psychosomatic and psychosocial symptoms in children might be associated with low blood pressure.