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Article History

Received: 16 April 2019

Accepted: 18 November 2019

First Online: 9 January 2020

Ethics approval and consent to participate

: The Natsal-3 study, was approved by the Oxfordshire Research Ethics Committee A (reference: 09/H0604/27). The Research Ethics Committee approved informed verbal consent procedures. All Natsal-3 participants were given an information leaflet to read prior to participation. In line with standard practice for UK surveys, and in response to evidence suggesting that signing a consent form might lead to a greater sense of obligation to complete the interview, we obtained verbal rather than written consent [CitationRef removed]. We ensured procedures for obtaining verbal informed consent via our interviewer training and protocols: interviewers were trained to make sure that participants had read the information leaflet and had the opportunity to discuss the study fully before the interview began; and at the beginning of each interview, interviewers were prompted (on screen) to remind participants that they could choose not to answer any question. Interviewers had to confirm in the computer programme that respondents had read the information leaflet before commencing the interview. All participants provided their own consent to participate, however for 16 and 17 year olds living at home, a parent/guardian provided additional verbal assent for participation.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.