Ukrainian Journal of Perinatology and Pediatrics. 2026.1(105): 91-98. doi: 10.15574/PP.2026.1(105).9198
Kvashnina L. V., Matviyenko I. M., Maydan I. S., Ignatova T. B., Lutsenko L. A.
SI «Ukrainian center of maternity and childhood of the NAMS of Ukraine», Kyiv

For citation: Kvashnina LV, Matviyenko IM, Maydan IS, Ignatova TB, Lutsenko LA. (2026). The impact of stress induced by military conflict on morbidity level and adaptive capacity in children (аnalysis of current research data). Ukrainian Journal of Perinatology and Pediatrics. 1(105): 91-98. doi: 10.15574/PP.2026.1(105).9198.
Article received: Oct 10, 2025. Accepted for publication: Feb 16, 2026.

The active military conflict in Ukraine have developed an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, leading to mass displacement of the population not only within the country, but also beyond its borders. And the most vulnerable group from these refugees are children: chronic psychosocial stress has a systemic impact on the child's immature body what is leading to disrupt homeostasis and deplete adaptive reserves.
Aim – to analyze current scientific data on the impact of stress during open military conflict on key indicators of children's health: morbidity, cardiovascular and autonomic nervous system function, sleep quality, and psycho-emotional state.
Chronic psychosocial stress has been shown to have a systemic impact on the immature child's body, disrupting homeostasis and depleting adaptive reserves. Numeral meta-analyses demonstrate high levels of mental disorders and psychopathology in conflict’s victims, internally displaced persons, and refugees. Due to military conflicts in the world, about 10% of people who were involved in these events will have serious mental health problems in the future, and another 10% of people will have behavioral changes that will interfere with rational and effective functioning in society. All of these data, obtained in military conflict zones in other countries and regions, can be confidently extrapolated to the situation with Ukrainian children, which indicates the urgent need to implement screening programs and medical and social assistance for this category of children.
Conclusions. War stress and deprivation in childhood significantly increase the risk of development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in adulthood. The consequences of military conflict for children do not finish with the advent of peace. They form a “vicious cycle”: trauma leads to poor health and reduced educational achievement, and low socio-economic status in adulthood, which is a powerful risk factor for disease and premature mortality. Helping children in war is not only a humanitarian task, but also an investment in the long-term health and well-being of an entire generation.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Keywords: children, military conflict, stress, displaced persons, refugees, sleep quality, heart rate variability, HRV, autonomic nervous system, morbidity, anxiety, cardiovascular system, Ukraine.

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