https://door.donau-uni.ac.at/o:6092 How Best to Perform Co-Research With Children and Adolescents: A Rapid Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Seidl, Karolina Karolina Seidl 0009-0007-3658-5097 Universität für Weiterbildung Krems Wahl, Anna Anna Wahl 0009-0008-5615-1939 Austrian National Public Health Institute Rojatz, Daniela Daniela Rojatz 0000-0002-8782-8913 Austrian National Public Health Institute Affengruber, Lisa Lisa Affengruber 0000-0002-7721-8732 Universität für Weiterbildung Krems Sommer, Isolde Isolde Sommer 0000-0003-3592-1507 Universität für Weiterbildung Krems Klerings, Irma Irma Klerings 0000-0001-6644-9845 Universität für Weiterbildung Krems Gugglberger, Lisa Lisa Gugglberger 0000-0001-7190-6086 Austrian National Public Health Institute Nash, Rosie Rosie Nash University of Tasmania Mahr-Slotawa, Johanna Johanna Mahr-Slotawa 0009-0002-7305-6008 Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences Griebler, Ursula Ursula Griebler 0000-0002-9958-3714 Universität für Weiterbildung Krems SAGE Publications journal article eng In recent years, emphasis has grown on involving children and adolescents in research. Co-research allows these age groups to be equal partners in research, ensures that their perspectives and experiences are considered, and empowers them to express their views and expertise on their own lives. However, involving children and young people in co-research poses complex challenges and raises multifaceted issues. This review provides insights from previous co-research processes and outlines the characteristics of an ideal co-research process. A rapid qualitative evidence synthesis was conducted to synthesize the qualitative research on co-research experiences with children and adolescents. We searched three electronic databases up to May 2023 and carried out supplementary searches. Two reviewers screened 742 abstracts and 169 full-text articles to select studies that met our eligibility criteria. From 48 eligible studies, we sampled 30 to synthesize based on the data richness for qualitative content analysis. Our synthesis highlights key factors that are crucial in co-research processes with children and adolescents. We developed a framework consisting of six key themes: the sociocultural factors, ethics, setting factors, project management, interpersonal factors, and individual factors of the young co-researchers. These themes involve various factors (e.g., children’s and adolescents’ rights, power imbalances, support structures, remuneration/incentives, trust, and time availability) that must be considered. The challenges and facilitators encountered throughout the co-research process were synthesized. In addition, we provide an overview of targeted co-research methods for young age groups, which offers valuable guidance for future co-research initiatives. co-research participatory research qualitative research children adolescents participatory methods http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ https://door.donau-uni.ac.at/api/object/o:6092/download 10.1177/16094069251346879 https://door.donau-uni.ac.at/o:5289 application/pdf International Journal of Qualitative Methods issn:1609-4069 International Journal of Qualitative Methods 24 1.11 MB 2025