Children of parents with a range of psychiatric disorders are at increased risk of developing psychological disturbance themselves. There is growing evidence that this includes children who have parents with a chronic somatoform disorder. The health beliefs of children with a parent with a somatoform disorder were compared with those of children with a parent with an organic physical disorder. Children of parents with somatoform disorder scored higher on bodily preoccupation and disease phobia scales and their health beliefs showed similarities to the beliefs of their parents.