Coproducing an Ecological Momentary Assessment Measurement Burst Mental Health Study With Young People: The MHIM...

Area of Science:

• Adolescent mental health research
• Youth engagement in scientific studies
• Research methodology and ethics

Background:

• Coproduction is increasingly recognized as essential in adolescent mental health research.
• Best practice guidelines and methods reporting are common, but unique considerations exist for longitudinal studies.
• Involving young people in research design decisions is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To involve young people in developing the Mental Health in Adolescence Longitudinal (MHIL) study protocol and its evaluative framework.
• To present a study protocol that integrates coproduction within a longitudinal mental health project.
• To establish a template for planning and reporting coproduction in adolescent mental health research.

Main Methods:

• Development of the MHIL-YPAG coproduction protocol with a pre-study youth advisory group.
• Utilizing an accelerated longitudinal-cohort design for the MHIL study.
• Combining ecological momentary assessment, bio-sampling, radar-based sleep measurement, and online questionnaires.

Main Results:

• The MHIL-YPAG protocol outlines the planned approach for youth involvement in the MHIL study.
• Coproduction involves co-developing the study structure with young people and engaging them as researchers.
• The protocol details how youth involvement and its impact will be evaluated.

Conclusions:

• This coproduction protocol, informed by literature and youth consultation, is one of the first of its kind.
• It provides a valuable template for designing and reporting coproduction in adolescent mental health research.
• It emphasizes the ethical imperative and practical benefits of genuine youth partnership in research.