Document is current

Article History

Received: 19 November 2024

Accepted: 17 February 2025

First Online: 1 March 2025

Declarations

:

: The University of Essex Ethics Committee has approved all data collection on Understanding Society main study and innovation panel waves, including asking consent for all data linkages except to health records. Requesting consent for health record linkage was approved at Wave 1 by the National Research Ethics Service (NRES) Oxfordshire REC A (08/H0604/124), at BHPS Wave 18 by the NRES Royal Free Hospital & Medical School (08/H0720/60) and at Wave 4 by NRES Southampton REC A (11/SC/0274). Approval for the collection of biosocial data by trained nurses in Waves 2 and 3 of the main survey was obtained from the National Research Ethics Service (Understanding Society – UK Household Longitudinal Study: A Biosocial Component, Oxfordshire A REC, Reference: 10/H0604/2). This research was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.All participants in UKHLS provided informed consent. The overall mechanism for gaining consent for participation in the Study is oral. Participants were sent details about Understanding Society in advance letters, information leaflets and were given information by interviewers if taking part in a face-to-face or telephone interview. These communications give participants information about the purpose of Understanding Society, how they were selected, who funds the Study, how the data will be used and how participants are protected from harm and the security and confidentiality of their data are maintained. Participants indicated their consent by answering questions. Participants were also informed that Understanding Society will contact them each year to ask them to participate.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.