Young people’s perspectives on joining longitudinal studies: barriers and facilitators

<ns7:p>Background Longitudinal studies play a vital role in understanding risk and protective factors that influence health in young people. However, recruitment and retention of sufficiently large and diverse samples of young people can be difficult, impacting the generalisability of subsequent findings. Highlighting young people’s perspectives on joining longitudinal studies – including recommendations for improvement based on their lived experiences – may be especially useful in informing approaches to recruitment in future studies. Methods We consulted with 5 young people (2 female, 3 male, aged 12–17) from a Young People’s Advisory Group (YPAG) over a one-hour virtual meeting. Here, we summarise key points from this discussion, describing barriers which may prevent young people from joining longitudinal studies and their recommendations for improving recruitment. Results Young people highlighted a lack of trust, time commitment and a lack of knowledge of the study itself as key barriers. They described how previous negative experiences, the unethical practices of past research, unclear study protocols and ineffective outreach can contribute to this. YPAG members emphasised transparency as a method of reducing these barriers, asking researchers to be upfront about the study aims, length and the frequency of follow-ups where possible. Suggestions for building trust included establishing rapport, discussing how data is used, sharing testimonies from existing participants and involving non-scientists in outreach. YPAG members suggested conducting outreach in diverse settings, considering language barriers and accessibility needs of the target audience when doing so. Study websites and flyers should balance visual appeal with perceived legitimacy; materials may require tailoring for different age groups. While offering compensation can improve recruitment, YPAG members had differing opinions on how types of incentives may be perceived – researchers may wish to provide compensation based on individual preferences. Together, these perspectives highlight how young people’s involvement can shape the recruitment of future longitudinal studies.</ns7:p>