Abstract
BackgroundEmerging adulthood is a distinct segment of an individual’s life course. The defining features of this transitional period include identity exploration, instability, future possibilities, self-focus, and feeling in-between, all of which are thought to affect quality of life, health, and well-being. A longitudinal cohort study with a comprehensive set of measures would be a valuable resource for improving the understanding of the multifaceted elements and unique challenges that contribute to the health and well-being of emerging adults.ObjectiveThe main aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of recruiting university graduates to establish a longitudinal cohort study to inform the understanding of emerging adulthood.MethodsThis pilot study was conducted among graduates at a large university. It involved collecting web-based survey data at baseline (ie, graduation) and 12 months post baseline, and linking survey responses to health records from administrative data collections. The feasibility outcome measures of interest included the recruitment rate, response rate, retention rate, data linkage opt-out rate, and availability of linked health records. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the representativeness of the sample, completeness of the survey responses, and data linkage characteristics.ResultsOnly 2.8% of invited graduates (238/8532) agreed to participate in this pilot cohort study, of whom 59.7% (142/238) responded to the baseline survey. The retention rate between the baseline and follow-up surveys was 69.7% (99/142). The completeness of the surveys was excellent, with the proportion of answered questions in each survey domain ranging from 87.3% to 100% in both the baseline and follow-up surveys. The data linkage opt-out rate was 32.4% (77/238).ConclusionsThe overall recruitment rate was poor, while the completeness of survey responses among respondents ranged from good to excellent. There was reasonable acceptability for conducting data linkage of health records from administrative data collections and survey responses. This pilot study offers insights and recommendations for future research aiming to establish a longitudinal cohort study to investigate health and well-being in emerging adults.Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number ACTRN12618001364268; https://tinyurl.com/teec8whInternational Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.2196/16108
Highlights
Emerging adulthood is the life stage between adolescence and young adulthood, lasting approximately from ages 18 to 25 years [1,2]
The completeness of the surveys was excellent, with the proportion of answered questions in each survey domain ranging from 87.3% to 100% in both the baseline and follow-up surveys
Different lived experiences, exposure to diverse opportunities, education, and influences from cultural and socioeconomic circumstances can challenge the transition from late adolescence to adulthood, and they have a significant impact on the health and well-being of emerging adults [2,3,4,5]
Summary
Emerging adulthood is the life stage between adolescence and young adulthood, lasting approximately from ages 18 to 25 years [1,2]. There are many events and factors that can impact the life course of emerging adults [1,2]. Few longitudinal studies have investigated aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and well-being in emerging adults. The scope of the SUN study was subsequently broadened to examine other risk factors and health conditions and expanded to include graduates from 5 other Spanish universities [9]. No longitudinal cohort study comprehensively investigating HRQoL and well-being in emerging adults has been undertaken in Australia. A longitudinal cohort study with a comprehensive set of measures would be a valuable resource for improving the understanding of the multifaceted elements and unique challenges that contribute to the health and well-being of emerging adults
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