Peer-reviewed article
The Global Impact of War on the Physical and Mental Health of Children and Adolescents: A Comprehensive Narrative Review
Mehdi Eskandari ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This narrative review looks at how armed conflict affects the physical and mental health of children and adolescents. It draws on research from child health, developmental science, mental health, education, sport science and humanitarian work. It covers injury, trauma, chronic stress, sleep problems, displacement, disrupted schooling and health care, poor nutrition and physical inactivity. It also considers resilience and the possible protective role of sport and structured physical activity. A case study on Iran in 2026 describes attacks on a school in Minab and a sports center in Lamerd, using UNICEF reporting and findings from an international fact-finding mission.
Key points
- Children experience war during critical periods of physical growth, brain development, emotional maturation and education, so effects go beyond immediate injury or death.
- War may affect nutrition, sleep, mental health, cognitive development, physical activity, education, family functioning and long-term social participation.
- Resilience is described as a dynamic process shaped by family, school, community, social protection, education, health care and opportunities for safe physical activity, not only an individual trait.
- Sport and structured physical activity are discussed as potentially protective environments for conflict-affected children.
- Protecting children requires an integrated approach beyond emergency medical care, including child protection, education continuity, psychosocial support, nutrition, health care access and protection of civilian infrastructure.
Limitations
The document is a narrative review, and only the abstract is available, so the methods, how studies were selected and the strength of the underlying evidence cannot be judged. The Iran case study relies on official and fact-finding reports, and no figures are given in the abstract.
Abstract
Armed conflict represents one of the most profound threats to the health, development, education, and future well-being of children and adolescents. Unlike adults, children experience war during critical periods of physical growth, neurological development, emotional maturation, education, and social formation. The consequences therefore extend beyond immediate injury or death and may influence nutrition, sleep, mental health, cognitive development, physical activity, education, family functioning, and long-term social participation. This comprehensive narrative review examines the multidimensional effects of armed conflict on children and adolescents, integrating evidence from child health, developmental science, mental health, public health, education, physical activity, sport science, resilience research, and humanitarian intervention literature. Particular attention is given to direct physical consequences, indirect health effects, psychological trauma, chronic stress, sleep disruption, developmental consequences, displacement, disruption of education and healthcare, nutrition, physical inactivity, and the potential role of sport and structured physical activity as protective environments. The review also examines evidence concerning resilience and interventions for conflict-affected children, emphasizing that resilience is not an individual trait alone but a dynamic process influenced by family, school, community, social protection, education, healthcare, and opportunities for safe physical activity. A contemporary case study concerning Iran in 2026 is included to illustrate how children may be directly affected in schools and civilian environments. The case study incorporates official UNICEF reporting and findings presented by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran concerning the Minab school and Lamerd sports-center attacks. The evidence indicates that protecting children during armed conflict requires an integrated approach extending beyond emergency medical care. Child protection, education continuity, mental-health and psychosocial support, nutrition, sleep, physical activity, sport, family support, healthcare access, and protection of civilian infrastructure should be considered interconnected components of child health.