Financial Impact of Inflation on Young Adults' Household Assets between 2015–2023 in Germany

Preferences for homogamous partnerships, not only in terms of having a partner with the same ethnicity, but one with the same religion, are an important factor in explaining low levels of interethnic partnerships in Western countries. However, previous research has rarely explicitly focused on the role of preferences for partnership formation patterns. Using data from a factorial survey experiment, which was implemented in the 9th wave of the “Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey in Four European Countries” among young adults in Germany (CILS4EU-DE), this study explores patterns of religious homophily in partnership preferences among young adults in Germany. It thereby specifically focuses on individuals belonging to two major religious groups: Christians and Muslims. It investigates the effects of religious denomination, religiosity, type of intimate partnership, and gender differences for religious homophily in partnership preferences. Both male and female respondents were found to prefer partners of the same religious denomination, with this effect being stronger among Muslims than Christians. Muslim respondents showed no or little disapproval of more strongly religious partners, whereas Christian respondents showed strong disapproval of more religious partners. Among Christian and male Muslim but not among female Muslim respondents, preferences for religious homophily were lower for casual partnerships than for marriage. Overall, the findings suggest that religious homophily and religion play an important part in shaping partnership choices among young Christian and Muslim adults in Germany.

Between 2015 and 2023, young adults in Germany faced formidable financial hurdles, especially with inflation reaching a staggering 10.6% peak from 2021 to 2023. This literature review delves into the direct impact on their household assets, drawing insights from extensive literature, reports, and data. High inflation eroded net asset returns for young households, amplifying future wealth gaps. With a foundational review of inflation theories and asset returns, the findings reveal that smaller asset bases and fluctuating incomes left young adults especially exposed, slowing their wealth-building efforts and deepening income inequalities. The study urges targeted policy actions to boost financial resilience and advocates for further research on inflation’s enduring impact on young households' wealth trajectory.

Recently, a study was conducted in the Netherlands to evaluate the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and its associated lockdown periods on academic functioning, mood, and health correlates, such as alcohol consumption. The Dutch study revealed that lockdowns were associated with significantly poorer mood and reductions in perceived immune fitness. Overall, a reduction in alcohol consumption during lockdown periods was shown. Academic functioning in terms of self-reported performance was unaffected. However, a significant reduction in interactions with other students and teachers was reported. However, there was considerable variability among students; both increases and reductions in alcohol consumption were reported, as well as both improvements and poorer academic functioning during periods of lockdown. The aim of the current online study was to replicate these findings in Germany. To achieve this, a slightly modified version of the survey was administered among young adults (aged 18 to 35 years old) in Germany. The survey assessed possible changes in self-reported academic functioning, mood, and health correlates, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, perceived immune functioning, and sleep quality during periods of lockdown as compared to periods with no lockdowns. Retrospective assessments were made for five periods, including (1) ‘BP’ (the period before the COVID-19 pandemic), (2) ‘L1’ (the first lockdown period, March–May 2020), (3) ‘NL1’ (the first no-lockdown period, summer 2020), (4) ‘L2’ (the second lockdown, November 2020 to May 2021), and (5) ‘NL2’ (the second no-lockdown period, summer 2021). This article describes the content of the survey and the corresponding dataset. The survey was completed by 371 participants.

Brigitte Schels, Hans Dietrich, Anette Haas, Vasilis Angelis and Annie Tubadji investigate changes in the poverty risks of 18- to 29-year-olds in Greece and Germany after the Great Recession. The authors discuss the two countries as examples for different welfare state regimes, Germany as an example for a conservative welfare state and Greece for a sub-protective welfare state. After 2008, Greece was one of the European countries to experience a particularly hard economic recession. In contrast, the consequences of the recession in Germany were weak and only of short duration. Given these different contexts, the authors investigate the differences in young people’s poverty risks and similarities across place and time. The authors draw on results from descriptive analyses, multivariate regression and decomposition analyses which show that young adults in Greece experienced impoverishment over time, while the poverty risks of young adults in Germany were rather stable. Among other things, their studies show that the employment intensity of the household is the major influencing factor in both countries. In both countries, the associations between the employment intensity of the household and relative income poverty seem to be stronger than between employment intensity and severe material deprivation.

Young adults frequently face mental health challenges due to high expectations, self-doubt, and uncertainties about the future. With advancements in digital communication, artificial intelligence (AI)-based conversational agents (CAs) could play a role for those struggling with grief, anxiety or loneliness. This study investigates the current use of CAs (e. g. ChatGPT, Siri) for mental health purposes and the preferred communication modes among young adults in Germany. A quantitative online survey was conducted from August 6 to September 17, 2023, involving 216 participants aged 18 to 27 (120 females, 95 males, 1 non-binary). The findings reveal that 82 % of respondents use CAs, with 17 % having asked help from these agents when feeling depressed or anxious. While verbal communication is preferred for sharing grief with humans, written interaction is favoured when engaging with CAs. Notably, participants with preexisting anxiety or psychological distress showed an increased tendency to communicate about it and a stronger preference for writing about their concerns. These findings suggest that CAs could be a valuable tool for mental health support, especially for young male adults who may be less inclined to openly share their concerns. Further exploration is needed to understand the evolving role of CAs in mental health support, particularly in how to interact with them effectively.

Trends and consumption patterns in the use of e-cigarettes among adolescents and young adults in Germany (the DEBRA study)

n the context of accelerated urbanization and climate change, urban green spaces (UGS) are highly considered an essential pillar of a livable city that promotes a healthier environment and enhances human socio-ecological needs. In this light, several studies have examined public perceptions of the health effects of UGS for informed urban planning. This study supports this field by employing a web-based questionnaire survey to explore the perspectives of young adults in Germany on the health potentials of UGS, their climate change impact awareness as well as any existing concerns as they utilize these spaces, particularly in the context of climate change. The results show that young adults in Germany irrespective of their level of concern and awareness of climate change impacts overwhelmingly recognize and appreciate the positive health and well-being impacts of UGS and their growing importance in the context of climate change. In general, higher affinity was placed on the mental health benefits of UGS, however under climate change conditions, greater affinity was given to ecological benefits. Likewise, UGS's role in temperature regulation was perceived as the most increasingly important now and under climate change conditions. However, poor cleanliness, safety, security, and noise were major concerns. Several demographic factors that influenced respondents' awareness, perceptions, and concerns were revealed. Ultimately, the study concludes that UGSs are highly valued but a segment of the population lacks awareness of or underestimates its health effects. Hence, it echoes the critical need for extensive public education on climate change impacts and the health benefits of UGS while also emphasizing the importance of incorporating the perspectives and concerns of young residents into the planning and design of these spaces to advance their sustainability, resilience, and multifunctionality in the face of climate change.

National and international studies indicate that despite the decline in the consumption of traditional tobacco cigarettes, the consumption of other products, such as waterpipes (or hookahs), e‑cigarettes or e‑hookahs (avariant of e‑cigarettes), may be increasing. In addition to the long-term change in smoking behaviour, this article examines how the prevalence of smoking tobacco cigarettes, waterpipes, e‑cigarettes and e‑hookahs in adolescents and young adults in Germany has developed between 2007 and 2016. Data are based on representative surveys on substance use among adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 25conducted by the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) from 1973 to 2016. Age- and gender-specific trends of the proportion of those who describe themselves as smokers are shown. Additionally, trends of single and combined 30-day prevalence of consumption of tobacco cigarettes, waterpipes, e‑cigarettes and e‑hookahs are presented and tested for significance. Between 2007 and 2016, the decline in the proportion of adolescents and young adults who call themselves smokers and the decline of 30-day prevalence of consumption of tobacco cigarettes continued. At the same time, the consumption of waterpipes is rising in young adults and the consumption of e‑cigarettes is rising in young men. Among adolescents, the exclusive use of waterpipes, e‑cigarettes or e‑hookahs was more widespread in 2016 than the exclusive consumption of tobacco cigarettes. In comparison to tobacco cigarettes, the consumption of waterpipes, e‑cigarettes and e‑hookahs is becoming increasingly important among adolescents and young adults. Thus, these products must also be considered in the planning and design of preventive measures for the prevention of smoking.

In recent years, the financial education of young adults has gained importance in Germany; however, very few valid test instruments to assess the knowledge and understanding of personal finance are suitable for use in Germany. In this article, we describe results of a survey in which experts in Germany in areas related to personal finance judged the relevance of the items of the American Council of Economic Education’s Test of Financial Literacy for use in Germany. Overall, they found the German version of the Test of Financial Literacy to be a valid instrument for assessing the knowledge and understanding of personal finance of young adults in Germany. Also, we conducted cognitive interviews with young adults in Germany to identify the sources of their knowledge of personal finance. Most of the participants claimed they gained a significant amount but not the majority of their knowledge and understanding of personal finance through formal school education. We conclude that personal finance should be addressed more thoroughly at secondary schools in Germany

Purpose The study aims to examine the food shopping and eating habits of young adults in Germany, as well as to uncover nutritional differences within the young generation via segmentation. Design/methodology/approach A nationwide, representative online survey of 1,555 consumers aged 16 to 29 within Germany was conducted. In order to determine the food shopping and eating habits, the food-related lifestyle (FRL) concept was used and supplemented with additional nutrition-related statements. Statistical analysis techniques included factor and cluster analysis. The sample of young adults was analyzed using cluster analysis, and five nutritional styles were identified. Findings The findings indicate that Generation Z (Gen Z) does not exist as a collective when it comes to food shopping and eating habits. This age group can be classified into five nutritional styles: modern traditionalists, meat lovers, uninvolved, open-minded and moderate. Each nutritional style has distinctive differences from the other nutritional styles in terms of ways of shopping, products, quality and price choices, handling of food, cooking methods and everyday nutrition. Nonetheless, there may also be resemblances with another nutritional style. Originality/value The study aims to identify and describe different nutritional styles among young adults in Germany. This insight is important for food marketers, as it can help them to align their marketing approaches and strategies with these nutritional styles. From this, practitioners can develop differentiated recommendations for food marketing and nutritional communication in order to better address the individual target groups of young consumers.

Background/Aim This study aimed to examine the relationship between loneliness and bedtime procrastination in young adults in Germany, offering critical insights into the development and maintenance of both conditions. Specifically, it sought to test a new model that connects these two psychological constructs. Materials and Methods A quantitative online survey was conducted with 500 young adults (Mage = 23.3, 83.6% female). Loneliness was assessed using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, while bedtime procrastination was measured using the Bedtime Procrastination Scale. Results The results show a significant positive correlation between loneliness and bedtime procrastination in young adults. Sleep quality was also found to significantly correlate positively with loneliness as well as with bedtime procrastination. Conclusion The findings provide a crucial framework for understanding the relationship between the two psychological constructs of loneliness and bedtime procrastination. Implications for possible future interventions are discussed.

Based on theoretical and empirical work on the significance of school education for health, this study examines the influence of educational expansion on self-rated health (SRH) and the development of social and health inequalities between educational groups among young adults in Germany. We used data from the German Socio-Economic Panel study from 1995 to 2020, focusing on individuals aged 25-39 years. Health was measured using the single item 'self-rated health'. Social inequalities between educational groups were examined in terms of professional position, unemployment rates and household income. Logistic regression analyses were applied to examine health trends. The Relative and Slope Index of Inequality (RII/SII) were calculated to examine the development of social and health inequalities. The influence of school education, professional position, unemployment rates and income on the health trends was analysed using causal mediation analysis. We found a beneficial effect of educational expansion on SRH of young adults. At the same time, social and health inequalities have increased between educational groups in terms of relative and absolute measures of inequalities. The deterioration in health of young adults with low education could be partly explained by the increase in low-skilled jobs and low incomes. Our findings suggest that a high educational attainment is becoming increasingly important for success in the labor market and good SRH. Young adults with a low level of education are becoming a smaller but increasingly vulnerable group, which poses challenges for future prevention.

While the political communication and participation activities of young adults are changing, this is often not adequately captured by research due to a too narrow conceptualization of the phenomenon. Our approach conceptualizes political communication as activities comprising the reception of political content, interpersonal communication regarding political issues and political participation. We incorporated both analog and digital media, as well as different forms of political participation, to reflect the complex reality of political communication activities of young adults in the digital age. On the basis of a sample from 2013, we investigated the patterns of political communication of young adults (ages 18–33 years). This age group represents the first generation to have grown up under the ubiquitous influence of the internet and other modern information technologies. In addition, we examined factors influencing the formation of different political communication patterns of this generation. Results of cluster analyses demonstrated that young adults should not be seen as a homogeneous group. Rather, we found six communication types. Interestingly, no online-only type of political communication was revealed, By applying multinomial logistic regression analysis, we were able to demonstrate that socio-demographic variables, individual resources and cognitive involvement in politics influence the likelihood of belonging to more active political communication types. The present study investigated various information and communication opportunities of young adults, and is rare in terms of the richness of data provided. Our conceptual innovative approach enables a better understanding of young adults’ complex political communication patterns. Moreover, our approach encourages follow-up research, as our results provide a valuable starting point for intergenerational comparisons regarding changes in political engagement among young adults in Germany, as well as for cross-country analysis regarding different generations of young adults.

Purpose This paper examines the acceptance of cultured meat compared to insect-based products among young adults in Germany, taking into account differences between various diets (omnivorous, flexitarian, vegetarian, and vegan). Design/methodology/approach Based on an online survey, factors such as awareness, willingness to try and purchase, perceived naturalness, and safety aspects were assessed. Findings The results show that both product types have a comparable level of acceptance, with flexitarian individuals displaying the highest and vegetarian or vegan individuals the lowest openness. Price acceptance is largely tied to cost advantages over conventional products. Sustainability and ethical considerations have a supportive effect on willingness to try and consume. Practical implications This paper derives implications for target group-specific market introduction potentials. Originality This case study evaluates consumer acceptance patterns across different dietary groups among young adults in Germany, providing novel insights into the barriers and drivers for market acceptance of cell-cultured meat and insect-based products.

Between 2010 and 2015, migration to Germany increased from very low rates to a post-war record high. A heated debate revolves around the question whether high immigration increases inter-ethnic tensions or whether greater opportunities for inter-ethnic contact reduce prejudice. Most previous research has been cross-sectional and restricted to highly aggregated contextual data, leading to incomparable results and a highly fragmented state of research. In this article, we propose a theoretical synthesis of threat and contact approaches for three distinct geographical levels. We combine longitudinal survey data on young adults in Germany between 2010 and 2015 with detailed statistics on minority groups’ population size in neighbourhoods and regions as well as monthly inflows of new migrants. We find that attitudes towards minorities improved over time until the peak in immigration during 2015 that caused views on migrant groups to deteriorate. The positive effect of being friends with minority members is offset by threat effects in neighbourhoods with a strong concentration of migrants. On the level of cities/counties, by contrast, the positive contact effect is dominant.