Since launching Wave 5 of the Intergenerational Health Cohort Study (VIHCS), the 2000 Stories research team have had the pleasure of reconnecting with some of the incredible families who are part of our study.
It’s been wonderful to hear how the 8-year-olds of Wave 4 have now grown into teenagers! We’ve enjoyed following the families’ journeys into this new stage and understanding how the next generation is travelling. So much has changed in the world and for young people and their families since 1992.
As the VIHCs study participants reach the age of 15 – the same age their parents were, when they first joined the original study, Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study (VAHCS) – which recruited 2000 year 9 students in 1992 – we have been reaching out to participating families.
In Wave 5, both parents and their teenaged children have been invited to do an online survey, looking at things like family and household composition, school, health and well–being, friends, and substance use. We are also keen to ask about things that are different today: social and digital media in their life, and the big challenges that they see ahead for their generation.
This wave is especially impactful in shaping our understanding of adolescent health and the intergenerational factors which may influence it.
The continued involvement of the 2000 Stories study participants is invaluable in helping us uncover important insights that can inform policy and promote the health and wellbeing of future generations, and we’re excited to embark on this new phase. Stay tuned for more updates.
2000 Stories – study background
The 2000 Stories Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study (VAHCS) is a landmark population based longitudinal study spanning over 30 years. The project began in 1992, when a group of approximately 2000 Year 9 students (14-15 years of age) from over 44 schools across Victoria were selected to participate.
Many of our original 2000 stories participants have now had children of their own, creating the unique opportunity to explore how the health of one generation may be related to the next. 1030 children from 665 of the original 2000 Stories participants were recruited between 2006 and 2013 to participate in the 2000 Stories: Victorian Intergenerational Health Cohort Study (VIHCS).
Read more on the 2000 Stories Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study (VAHCS) here: https://www.rch.org.au/cah/research/2000_Stories/
