Association of parental psychological and behavioral factors and children's syncope

The authors examined the associations between parental variables and child syncope (fainting). Children ages 7 to 18 years undergoing tilt-table testi ng for neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS) at a pediatric cardiac center served as participants (N = 56). Results revealed that fathers' shortness of breat h and overall psychological distress were significantly related to syncope frequency and emergency room (ER) visits for girls, Mothers' overall psycho logical distress, depressive symptoms, and shortness of breath were associa ted with boys' frequency of syncope and ER visits. Fathers' psychological f actors were highly correlated with syncope for the children diagnosed negat ive for NCS. The frequency of children's syncope was higher in stepfamilies than in homes with both biological parents, and the correlations between c hildren's syncope and the stepfathers' psychological symptoms were greater than for the children and their biological fathers in intact families. The role of parental psychological factors on child syncope is supported.