Tracking Transitions Through Education: A Longitudinal Study

Post-secondary education is a critical determinant of economic competitiveness, labour market success, and financial stability, all of which significantly impact lifelong health and wellbeing. However, systemic discrimination and structural barriers, such as institutional racism and transphobia within educational systems, hinder underrepresented youth from accessing and succeeding in higher education. This is particularly the case for youth who experience multiple layers of oppression within the Canadian context, such as disabled Black youth. 

Recognizing the intricate connection between education, employment, and health among underrepresented youth including Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, disabled, Two-Spirit, Trans, Non-Binary, and/or Other Gender Diverse youth, this research aims to understand factors that impede or facilitate successful transitions into and through post-secondary education and labour market, and how these transitions affect their health. Taking a mixed-method intersectional approach and a community-engaged partnership model, the research will collaborate with organizations representing these groups to collect comprehensive longitudinal quantitative data along with qualitative data on each underrepresented group. This approach will capture nuanced insights into students’ experiences and wellbeing as they navigate critical educational and career milestones. The longitudinal nature of the data will illuminate specific and evolving barriers each group faces which will allow us to pinpoint when and where they need the most support. The findings will inform policymakers with recommendations for progressive policy changes tailored to the unique needs of underrepresented youth at critical transition points that are necessary to facilitate lifelong socioeconomic mobility, and health and wellbeing.

We will employ a mixed-methods design guided by intersectionality, integrating longitudinal survey data with qualitative focus groups.

Phase 1a. Establish and Train Youth Advisory Group: Four Youth Advisory Groups will be established, representing Indigenous, Two-Spirit, Trans, Non-Binary, and/or Other Gender Diverse, disabled, and racialized youth. These groups will receive training and mentoring to ensure meaningful engagement throughout the research process. The advisory group will contribute lived expertise and conceptual knowledge, informing survey design, analysis, and dissemination of findings. They will also provide qualitative insights to complement and deepen the understanding of the annual survey findings. 

Phase 1b. Scoping Review: The scoping review will identify barriers and facilitators to post-secondary education among underrepresented youth in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Additionally, it will document the direct impact of post-secondary education on health and its indirect impact through employment. These insights will inform survey development.

Phase 2. Survey Development and Distribution: A survey will be developed to capture barriers and facilitators to post-secondary education, labour market participation, and self-reported health among underrepresented youth in Canada. Feedback will be gathered from experts in survey development, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Indigenous Rights, and local community partners. Face validity will be assessed through pilot testing. The first survey is scheduled for distribution in September 2025, with annual distributions planned each September until 2030. Survey items will be refined annually to reflect participants’ transitions. Psychometric evaluations and measurement invariance analyses will be conducted on the initial survey data to ensure reliability and validity across diverse youth groups.

Phase 3. Focus Group with Youth Advisory Group and Workshop with Researchers and Partners: The Youth Advisory Group will participate in focus groups to contextualize the annual survey findings. Drawing on their lived experiences, they will identify key themes and insights relevant to policy development. These insights will inform a workshop involving researchers and community partners, where participants will build upon the findings to co-develop recommendations for systemic change at the policy level. This phase will culminate in a final, accessible report presenting practical policy recommendations tailored for broad applicability and usability across diverse youth groups.

Goals and implications: Our longitudinal, mixed-methods approach is expected to yield detailed policy recommendations informed by robust data and lived experiences. By highlighting specific and evolving barriers faced by each youth group, the research will identify their unique needs and pinpoint critical moments where support is most needed. Ultimately, this research will contribute to advancing socioeconomic mobility and health equity for underrepresented youth in Canada.