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