Designing a Longitudinal Survey on the Development of Iranian Children and Adolescents

Background: Investigating the effect of environmental factors, such as parental guidance and upbringing, on the individuals’ growth during their childhood and adolescence requires a long-term longitudinal study. So that, its effect on the individual cannot be sought immediately after an educational or psychological intervention. This article describes the designed protocol for the longitudinal survey of the development of Iranian children and adolescents. Methods: After performing a comparative study and reviewing similar global experiences in designing such surveys, the Iranian longitudinal survey on the development of children and adolescents was designed for five waves with a two-year interval. The longitudinal sample at the beginning of the study comprised children aged 0 to 11 years. Several questionnaires were designed for families, parents, children, adolescents and young people, teachers, and principals of schools in which the child was studying, as well as caregivers at home and kindergarten. In this survey, a three-stage probability sampling method with stratum at the provincial and national levels with two different scenarios was proposed. Findings: A roadmap for longitudinal study on the development of Iranian children and adolescents was designed and presented. Thirteen questionnaires were prepared and also, the sampling method and the method of implementing survey in different waves was determined. Conclusion: In this survey, for the first time, Iranian longitudinal studies of children and adolescents’ development have been designed with the aim of in-depth and comprehensive study of the children and adolescents’ development process and the effect of individual, family, and educational factors on their growth and development. Keywords: Longitudinal studies; Child development; Adolescents; Sampling studies; Surveys and questionnaires