Advancing Impactful Research for Adolescent Health and Wellbeing: Key Principles and Required Technical Investments

Abstract

Purpose

Substantial progress in adolescent health research has been made over recent decades, but important knowledge gaps remain.

Methods

Informed by targeted reviews of the literature, expert consultation, and authors' collective experiences, we propose future directions in adolescent health research.

Results

We identified five key principles on how future research must be approached alongside what technical investments are required to act on them. Principles: 1. Research with adolescents must be decolonizing in practice, dismantling systems of oppression, exploitation, and cultural dominance; 2. Research must recognize socio-political, structural, and commercial determinants of adolescent health; 3. Research must be developmentally and contextually appropriate, reflecting adolescents’ evolving capacities and increasingly complex and intersecting determinants of health; 4. Research must be strengths-based – moving away from problematizing adolescents and/or their behaviours toward focusing on their strengths as levers for change; and 5. Research must be built on a foundation of respectful partnerships as a right, and because adolescents have unique knowledge and skills to contribute. Technical investments: 1. Sampling techniques and approaches that provide equity of opportunity for all to participate; 2. High-quality descriptive studies from all nations to understand adolescents' ever-evolving contexts, needs and assets; 3. Investment in what works within each context and for whom through trials and robust assessments/evaluations; and 4. Implementation science research strategies.

Discussion

Adolescent health research will require reorientation and innovation in both how we approach research and what technical investments are required to improve the health and wellbeing of adolescents now and into the future.