About the survey

We are planning a short 20-minute online survey of MCS cohort members’ parents and carers as an extension of the Age 23 Sweep.

Parents/carers continue to play a significant role in supporting their children well into adulthood, and this is especially true for today’s generation. As the MCS cohort navigates a particularly dynamic stage of life, it is more important than ever to assess the ongoing influence of parents/carers and the evolving nature of their relationships with their adult children.

Collecting data on parents’/carers’ health, employment, and socioeconomic circumstances is essential, as these factors can have a profound impact on the cohort members’ lives and outcomes. Furthermore, understanding the continued role of parents/carers in their adult children’s lives is crucial for capturing the lasting influence of family dynamics during this critical transition into adulthood.

We will be inviting one parent/carer per cohort member to take part in the survey. In most cases this will be the parent/carer who has provided the most information to the study in the past.

About the consultation

We are seeking views on the initial draft questionnaire from experts in the scientific, policy, third, and private sectors. This is an open consultation, and we welcome all contributions.

We are particularly interested in hearing from those who plan to use data from the MCS Age 23 Sweep, to understand how the additional parent/carer data may enhance your research.

This is an excellent opportunity to shape the data collected and ensure it is fit for purpose to answer key scientific and policy questions about the ongoing role of parents in their adult children’s lives, at this key transitional stage of emerging adulthood. Your input will help ensure that the survey is designed to maximise its value and relevance to a wide range of topics, providing a richer context for understanding the factors shaping the cohort members’ lives as they transition into adulthood.

How to submit to the consultation

All submissions to the consultation must be completed using the online Qualtrics submission form below.

Read the draft questionnaire before submitting:

1. Before submitting, please carefully review draft questionnaire (PDF).
2. The online submission form will first ask for your comments on the questions that are currently included in the draft questionnaire.
3. You will then be asked to make suggestions for any questions or topics which are not currently included. When making suggestions for additional questions or topics you will be asked to describe the scientific justification and the research questions that will be able to be answered.

Qualtrics submission form