Country
Work Package 1
5) Born in Bradford’s Age of Wonder cohort (BiB AoW)
The Age of Wonder (AoW) programme is a seven-year, multi-modal follow-up of the existing BiB birth cohort (and their peers), tracking adolescents aged approximately 12–21 years across Bradford. It aims to co-produce research with young people and capture broad dimensions of adolescent life – physical, mental, social, educational, cognitive, amid post-pandemic challenges.
United Kingdom (Bradford, West Yorkshire, England).
Type of Study
A mixed-methods, whole-city cohort study comprising:
- Quantitative surveys and clinical measures (blood samples, health metrics).
- Qualitative longitudinal research (e.g. interviews, focus groups).
- Ecological momentary assessment.
Data Collection
Phase 1 comprises annual in-school surveys for years 8–10 (ages ~12–15), including mental wellbeing. Physical health assessments in Year 9: height, weight, blood pressure, blood samples.
Phase 2 comprises following the AoW participants from the age of 16 years, in schools, further education or community settings, until the age of 21 years old.
Sample Size
30,000 for the quantitative cohort & around 100 adolescents for the qualitative sub-cohort.
Sample Size Characteristics
Year 8–10 (12–15), Year 9 clinical subsample (13–14), qualitative group aged 12/13–19/20. Around 68% of original cohort lived in most deprived quintile. Many of South Asian heritage (~49% at recruitment).
Measurement of Mental Health
- Anxiety and depression (RCADS25, Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale, 25 items).
- Wellbeing (SWEMWBS).
- Loneliness (UCLA loneliness scale 4).
- General Help Seeking (GHSQ).
- Resilience (BRS).
- Psychosis (PLIKS-8) – Year 10 only.
- Perceived social support (MSPSS).
Cohort Profile Available
Yes. Shire KA et al. Born in Bradford’s Age of Wonder cohort: protocol for adolescent data collection. Wellcome Open Res, Volume 9, Issue 32, DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.20785.1.
Key Publications
Dogra SA et al. Born in Bradford Age of Wonder cohort: A protocol for qualitative longitudinal research, Wellcome Open Res, Volume 7, Issue 270, DOI:10.12688/wellcomeopenres.18096.3.
Open Access
Researchers and stakeholders can apply for data access by submitting a proposal to the Born in Bradford (BiB) governance team.
Contact For Collaboration and Possible Access
- Rosie McEachan – overall research lead, contact: rosie.mceachan@bthft.nhs.uk.
- Sufyan Dogra – Teenage Stories qualitative lead, contact: sufyan.dogra@bthft.nhs.uk.
- Katy Shire – Programme Manager, contact: katy.shire@bthft.nhs.uk.