Research access to adolescents and young adults

Gaining research access to adolescents and young adults is not straightforward and involves layers of negotiation and administration. Experiences of accessing adolescents and young adults aged 13–21 years are described in this article. Issues raised for consideration are: identifying clinical gatekeepers; seeking ethical approval; making direct contact with adolescents and young adults (hereafter referred to as young people); and dealing with parents as gatekeepers. Refusal rates, participation rates, and reasons are also considered. The issues raised provide practical insights that may be helpful to other researchers aiming to access adolescents and young adults.