Social connection and mental health in young adults

The project

Emerging adulthood is a distinct developmental period that sets individuals up for adult life. It is also recognised as a peak period for experimentation with substances, and is a high-risk period for depression, and the onset or increase of non-suicidal self-injury and suicidality.

During emerging adulthood, people are moving out of the highly structured environment of high school into a whole range of environments where social relationships are central, such as entering new workplaces, commencing university, TAFE, or apprenticeships, joining new sporting clubs with new teammates, or experiencing friends moving interstate or overseas. Given the centrality of social changes and psychosocial development during emerging adulthood, it is important to gain a better understanding of how social variables impact mental health and well-being in this population.

A PhD student at Curtin want to better understand which facets of social connection impact mental health during emerging adulthood. These findings can provide insights for the development of interventions and supports, such as developing better programs in settings for emerging adults, such as universities, TAFEs, and workplaces, to improve mental health and well-being during this critical developmental period.

The involvement opportunity

The PhD student would like to involve 5 people (18-25 years old) to form a Community Advisory Group (CAG) for the project. The CAG will  provide feedback on recruitment materials, the wording of survey questions, and feedback on data analysis. There may be opportunities to help with the dissemination of research.

Skills and experience

You need to be between the age of 18 and 25. The PhD student is looking for people with different experiences of social connection (you may feel really connected, or you may be some one who wants more connection).

You can be located anywhere in Australia.

Previous experience in an advisory group isn’t required.

Other information

There will be 5-6 meetings across the course of the PhD study. Meetings will go for 2 hours.

Meetings will be held online via Microsoft Teams or at the Curtin Bentley campus.

An honorarium of $37.50/hour is provided. Training and support is available from Curtin Involve.

Closing date: August 15, 2025