The pivotal transition from adolescence to young adulthood in a turbulent time. What the STARS cohort can tell us about health consequences now - and beyond.

This project focuses on health of young individuals transitioning from adolescence to young adulthood within the STARS cohort, a unique study monitoring both mental and physical health on 2283 individuals since the age of 13.

Besides that they experienced the COVID-19 pandemic-related stressors, many of them are now also expressing worries related to gang crime, terrorism, war, economic hardships and/or the climate crisis.The main objective of this project is to explore the evolving health status among individuals transitioning from adolescence to young adulthood.

The research aims to investigate the complex interplay between physiological and psychosocial dynamics, accentuated by the current turbulent times.By conducting a fourth follow-up (wave 4) of STARS participants now entering young adulthood, and utilizing data from waves 1-3 at ages 13, 15, and 18-years, we seek to answer these questions:1a.

What is the prevalence of mental illness and cardiometabolic risks among young adults? How do factors like motivation, life purpose, and maintaining hope amidst challenges impact health? Data: online surveys, physiological examinations, registers at wave 4. Method: Regression analysis.1b. What challenges do young adults perceive, and how do they navigate the turbulent times marked by polycrisis?

Data: qualitative semi-structured interviews at wave 4. Method: qualitative thematic analysis.2.

Is it possible to discern unique trajectories of mental health issues, personal and social resources (including coping strategies), health behaviours, and educational achievement throughout adolescence? Data: waves 1-3. Method: group-based trajectory modelling.3. How do socioeconomic and personal adversities in early life shape these paths?

Data: registers and from wave 1. Method: Multinominal regression4.

Do these trajectories function as mediators/moderators in the associations between early life socioeconomic factors, personal adversities, and the likelihood of mental illness and cardiovascular risks among young adults?

Method: regression, mediation, moderation analysis.Recognizing the heightened vulnerability of young adults facing polycrisis, the project contributes not only to the understanding of young adult health but also to providing insights into future health risks and trajectories.The budget prioritizes staff salaries due to their extensive involvement in organizing the fourth follow-up, and costs including laboratory analysis of blood/hair samples.