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 = 1.4) than children with blood pressure below -1 SD of the mean (x = 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.
Borres
M P
MP
Department of Pediatrics, Göteborg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Tanaka
H
H
Thulesius
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology