{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,16]],"date-time":"2026-10-16T19:16:30Z","timestamp":1792178190440,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,28]],"date-time":"2025-03-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1743120000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"OLAM TOGETHER"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has forced numerous migrants into neighboring countries, many suffering from pre-existing or newly acquired physical and mental health conditions. Addressing these complex challenges in humanitarian settings requires innovative, evidence-based interventions that are cost-effective and easy to administer. Drawing upon research highlighting the vagus nerve\u2019s role in regulating well-being, we hypothesized that vagal nerve activation could offer a promising therapeutic approach. Method: We conducted a proof-of-concept study in which 21 Ukrainian forced migrants were trained in a biofeedback-guided paced breathing intervention designed to stimulate the vagus nerve and promote self-regulation of stress response systems. Changes in pain perception, perceived stress, blood pressure, and heart rate were assessed before and after the vagal breathing intervention using a t-test. Correlations were examined at baseline. Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed in all measures except systolic blood pressure, providing preliminary evidence for the efficacy of vagal nerve activation in alleviating stress-related health symptoms. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility and therapeutic potential of a vagal nerve-activating intervention in a humanitarian setting. These findings warrant replication in larger, controlled trials. If substantiated, this low-cost, scalable intervention could help mitigate health burdens among forced migrant populations worldwide.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph22040515","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,28]],"date-time":"2025-03-28T06:45:51Z","timestamp":1743144351000},"page":"515","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Vagal Nerve Biofeedback Intervention for Improving Health Outcomes Among Ukrainian Forced Migrants: A Proof-of-Concept Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"22","author":[{"given":"Yori","family":"Gidron","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3103301, Israel"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6278-8364","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Einav","family":"Levy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Social Work, Tel-Hai College, Qiryat Shmona 1220800, Israel"},{"name":"Research Center for Innovation in Social Work, Tel-Hai College, Qiryat Shmona 1220800, Israel"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9028-1154","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chen Hanna","family":"Ryder","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Brain & Behavior Research Institute, Western Galilee Academic College, Akko 2412101, Israel"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sharon","family":"Shaul","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv 6250769, Israel"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rita","family":"Sirota","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cardiology, Carmel Hospital, Haifa 3103301, Israel"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Drorit","family":"Atias","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"(2024, June 20). 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