Research strategy for health sciences: Facebook friend request is non‐differentially accepted in a diverse, young adult population

摘要

Abstract Social media is being used for recruitment and the study of health‐care choices and behavior, and could be particularly helpful to reach young adult populations outside of a 4?year college setting. The aim of this study was to report on overall success of recruiting young adults in diverse settings with respect to education and employment into a study using Facebook (FB). Young adults ( n ?=?380, 50% male, 44% white) who had been involved in a longitudinal research project received a friend request from the research study group's profile. Acceptance rates of friend requests and sociodemographic and mental health factors associated with acceptance were evaluated. Approximately 67% of 318 participants who received a friend request accepted the request. Sociodemographic and mental health characteristics were similar between those who did and did not accept friend requests, suggesting non‐differential recruitment through FB. Friending through FB is a feasible way to reach young adults involved in health and behavioral research, and could be a way to expand the populations that are studied in health science research to maximize generalizability of the conclusions drawn.