Conducting research with adolescents experiencing marginalisation and vulnerability

Globally, most adolescents thrive and achieve good health and wellbeing with high life expectancies ahead of them. However, those who face vulnerability and marginalisation during this period experience numerous health and social inequities that significantly influence their development during adolescence and their future life chances. Marginalisation and vulnerability occur in many different contexts, including contact with child protection services due to childhood neglect and abuse, homelessness, involvement with the police, and significant life events such as early pregnancy and parenting, as well as the experience of living with gender and sexual diversity. Research with these different cohorts of adolescents who experience marginalisation and vulnerability is challenging. This stems from research ethics governance, the need to adapt flexibly to the complexity of their needs and contexts, and various structural challenges imposed by the service systems around access to some groups. Yet, research to address marginalisation, vulnerability, and related inequities and test preventive interventions is critical to inform policy directions. This chapter explores our collective experience conducting research with adolescents experiencing marginalisation and vulnerability.