German Adult Population Research Articles

Coming Out of the Niche? Social Banking in Germany: An Empirical Analysis of Consumer Characteristics and Market Size

The social banking market constitutes a small but rapidly growing submarket of the global banking sector. Due to an explicit commitment to sustainability, social banking is a segment of banking services which is not exclusively focused on economic performance criteria, but pursues ecological and social goal dimensions on an equal footing. Information on the number and reachability of potential social banking customers is essential for social banks to further promote sustainable consumption in finance. In scientific research, social banking is considered a relatively new field, still lacking empirical analyses regarding the market size and specific consumer behaviour. This study addresses the research gap by generating first insights into the German social banking market. Based on an online survey using an adaptive conjoint analysis, a large data set covering 3537 respondents was compiled. Sample 1 comprises 2896 respondents who are customers of three major social banks in Germany. Sample 2 covers the remaining 641 respondents who represent the German adult population and exclusively buy from conventional banks. Logistic regression modelling reveals that social banking customers differ significantly from their conventional counterparts regarding several socio-demographic, behavioural and psychographic factors. In comparison with conventional banking customers, social banking customers tend to be younger, higher educated and located in larger places of residence. Contrary to existing research on socially responsible investors, they are male to a higher proportion than female. Moreover, social banking customers demonstrate stronger sustainable buying patterns and weaker preferences for financial, but stronger preferences for social return than conventional banking customers. The results further indicate a considerable untapped growth potential for social banks by uncovering a market size ranging between 10 and 26% of the German adult population. Finally, suggestions for marketing strategies and future research are given.

The incidence of hypertension and its risk factors in the German adult population: results from the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey 1998 and the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults 2008-2011.

To analyze incident hypertension and its risk factors based on 11.9 years follow-up of a recent National Examination Survey cohort in Germany. Out of 7124 participants of the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey 1998 (GNHIES98), 640 had died at follow-up 2008-2011 and 3045 were reexamined as part of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults 2008-2011 (DEGS1). Baseline and follow-up included standardized blood pressure (BP) measurements. Hypertension was defined as BP of at least 140/90 mmHg or intake of antihypertensive medication in participants with known hypertension. Out of 2231 GNHIES98-DEGS1 participants aged 18-79 years without hypertension in 1998, 26.2% developed hypertension within a mean of 11.9 (range 10.0-14.1) years (men 29.0%, women 23.4%). In univariate analysis, hypertension incidence was positively associated with age, BMI, initial BP levels, pulse pressure, and alcohol consumption. Comorbidities such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia increased the chance to develop hypertension. In the multivariate model, initial SBP and DBP levels had the strongest influence on the development of future hypertension (7% increase in men and 5% in women per mmHg SBP). The percentage of aware, treated, and controlled hypertensive patients were 75.8, 62.1, and 50.3% in men and 83.8, 73.3, and 59.0% in women. The high 11.9-year incidence in all age groups points to the lifelong potential for prevention of hypertension.

Thinking About Tomorrow? Predicting Experimental Choice Behavior and Life Outcomes from a Survey Measure of Present Bias

Using a representative sample of the German adult population, this paper investigates the extent to which a survey measure of present bias predicts present-biased choice behavior in incentive-compatible experiments and real-world outcomes related to in-vestments in financial assets and human capital. The results are threefold. First, the survey and experimental measures of present bias are significantly related. Second, the survey measure predicts choices between immediate and delayed monetary payoffs in an incentive-compatible experiment, but not between payoffs at two future points in time. Third, the survey measure of present bias is a good predictor of the propensity to save money, to obtain a university degree, and to maintain a healthy life style. In most specifications, the survey measure tends to be a stronger predictor of real life outcomes than the experimentally elicited measure of present bias.

Validation of the German Diabetes Risk Score among the general adult population: findings from the German Health Interview and Examination Surveys

ObjectiveTo evaluate the German Diabetes Risk Score (GDRS) among the general adult German population for prediction of incident type 2 diabetes and detection of prevalent undiagnosed diabetes.MethodsThe longitudinal sample for...

Time Trends in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Adults.

Data from three representative health examination surveys in Germany were analyzed to examine secular trends in the prevalence and magnitude of cardiometabolic risk factors. The target variables were the following cardiometabolic risk factors: lack of exercise, smoking, obesity, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, serum glucose, self-reported high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, and the use of antihypertensive, cholesterol-lowering, and antidiabetic drugs. 9347 data sets from men and 10 068 from women were analyzed. The calculated means and prevalences were standardized to the age structure of the German population as of 31 December 2010 and compared across the three time periods of the surveys: 1990-1992, 1997-1999, and 2008-11. Over the entire period of observation (1990-2011), the mean systolic blood pressure fell from 137 to 128 mmHg in men and from 132 to 120 mmHg in women; the mean serum glucose concentration fell from 5.6 to 5.3 mmol/L in men and from 5.4 to 5.0 mmol/l in women; and the mean total cholesterol level fell from 6.2 to 5.3 mmol/L in both sexes. In men, smoking and lack of exercise became less common. On the other hand, the prevalence of use of antidiabetic, cholesterol-lowering, and antihypertensive drugs rose over the same time period, as did that of self-reported diabetes. The first of the three surveys (1990-1992) revealed differences between persons residing in the former East and West Germany in most of the health variables studied; these differences became less marked over time, up to the last survey in 2008-2011. The cardiometabolic risk profile of the German adult population as a whole improved over a period of 20 years. Further in-depth analyses are now planned.

SUN-P188: Diet-Dependent Influences on Serum Uric Acid Levels in the German Adult Population

SUN-P188: Diet-Dependent Influences on Serum Uric Acid Levels in the German Adult Population

PP.32.07] DISTRIBUTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK INDICATORS ACCORDING TO BLOOD PRESSURE STATUS IN THE GERMAN ADULT POPULATION

Objective: About one third of the German adult population is affected by hypertension, which is often accompanied by other metabolic and lifestyle-related changes that may act synergistically to increase the risk of cardiovascular and renal disorders. We thus aimed to describe the distribution of several common cardiovascular risk factors and socio-demographic characteristics according to blood pressure (BP) levels in a nationally representative sample of the adult German population 2008-2011. Design and method: Cross-sectional analyses were performed in 6788 participants aged 18–79 years of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1) with available urine and blood measurements as well as information on BP and BMI. Participants were grouped in tertiles according to their systolic BP (sysBP), stratified by 20-year age groups and sex. Characteristics including serum glucose, cholesterol, uric acid, an urinary estimate of potassium intake (estK), and proportions of smokers, persons with high socioeconomic status and those without any sports activity were compared between tertiles. The association of sysBP as a continuous variable adjusted for age, sex and BMI with several of these cardiovascular risk factors was also evaluated in linear regression models. Finally, least-squares means of risk factors adjusted for age, sex and BMI were compared between BP-categories classified according to the guidelines of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH). Results: Except for estK and investigated characteristics of physical activity and socioeconomic status, all risk factors differed significantly (P< = 0.01) between tertiles of sysBP. Results were also confirmed in linear regression models, with an additional inverse association emerging between estK and sysBP after BMI-adjustment. Least-squares means of serum uric acid, glucose and cholesterol adjusted for age, sex and BMI increased by 0.15 mg/dL, 2.3 mg/dL and 12 mg/dL, respectively, from those with optimal BP to those with hypertension grade 1–3. Mean estK was 160 mg/d lower in participants with hypertensive BP-values compared to those with optimal BP. Conclusions: In the general adult German population, several cardiovascular risk indicators differ according to BP-status. Further analyses should investigate which of these (potentially modifiable) factors are independently associated with BP.

Longitudinal associations between perceived age discrimination and subjective well-being: variations by age and subjective life expectancy

ABSTRACTObjectives: Perceived age discrimination can have negative effects on one's subjective well-being (SWB). The response to age discrimination might differ based on age, and based on perceived longevity, or subjective life expectancy (SLE). These differential effects have not yet been prospectively examined within adult life span samples.Method: We examined the association between perceived age discrimination at baseline (T1) and SWB at follow-up (T2), and the moderation effect of SLE. We compared differences in these effects between middle-aged and older adults. Analyses were based on participants who took part in the 2008 (T1) and 2011 (T2) assessments of the German Ageing Survey (DEAS; listwise N = 1534), a population-based representative sample of the German adult population. Participants were categorized as middle-aged (ages 40–64; n = 919) or older adults (ages 65–93; n = 615).Results: Regression analyses indicated that T1 perceived age discrimination significantly predicts lower T2 SWB among middle-aged, but not among older adults, after adjusting for covariates and T1 SWB. There is a significant interaction between age discrimination and SLE for predicting SWB, only among middle-aged participants, suggesting that age discrimination predicts decreases in SWB for those reporting higher, but not lower levels of SLE.Conclusion: People in the transition from midlife to old age, who hold higher SLE, appear to be more vulnerable to age discrimination. This may be due to the experience of age discrimination as an ‘off-time’, or unexpected event for those in midlife who have a higher expectation to live longer.

Gaussian Graphical Models Identify Networks of Dietary Intake in a German Adult Population

Background: Data-reduction methods such as principal component analysis are often used to derive dietary patterns. However, such methods do not assess how foods are consumed in relation to each other. Gaussian graphical models (GGMs) are a set of novel methods that can address this issue.Objective: We sought to apply GGMs to derive sex-specific dietary intake networks representing consumption patterns in a German adult population.Methods: Dietary intake data from 10,780 men and 16,340 women of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Potsdam cohort were cross-sectionally analyzed to construct dietary intake networks. Food intake for each participant was estimated using a 148-item food-frequency questionnaire that captured the intake of 49 food groups. GGMs were applied to log-transformed intakes (grams per day) of 49 food groups to construct sex-specific food networks. Semiparametric Gaussian copula graphical models (SGCGMs) were used to confirm GGM results.Results: In men, GGMs identified 1 major dietary network that consisted of intakes of red meat, processed meat, cooked vegetables, sauces, potatoes, cabbage, poultry, legumes, mushrooms, soup, and whole-grain and refined breads. For women, a similar network was identified with the addition of fried potatoes. Other identified networks consisted of dairy products and sweet food groups. SGCGMs yielded results comparable to those of GGMs.Conclusions: GGMs are a powerful exploratory method that can be used to construct dietary networks representing dietary intake patterns that reveal how foods are consumed in relation to each other. GGMs indicated an apparent major role of red meat intake in a consumption pattern in the studied population. In the future, identified networks might be transformed into pattern scores for investigating their associations with health outcomes.

The relationship between perceived own health state and health assessments of anchoring vignettes

Background/Objective: Self-reported health depends on the internal frame of reference and on response styles. One way of studying this dependency is using anchoring vignettes. Response shift effects are assumed to induce a negative correlation between self-reported health and the health assessments attributed to the vignettes. Method: A representative sample of the German adult population (N=2,409) was selected. Participants were asked to rate their health state and the health states of two rather complex vignettes representing patients with several health complaints on a 0-100 scale. Results: The mean score of self-assessed health was M=76.20 (SD=20.6). There was a very small positive correlation between the assessment of the vignettes and the self-assessed health state (r=.12). After controlling for a proxy of objective health, measured in terms of chronic conditions, the relationship remained slightly positive. Chronic conditions were only marginally associated with the assessments of the vignettes (0 conditions: M=44.8; ≥ 2 conditions: M=42.2). Conclusions: The lack of the postulated association between self-reported health and vignettes’ ratings means that we cannot derive tools to correct the subjective ratings for differential use of frames of reference.

Plasma Concentrations of Trimethylamine-N-oxide Are Directly Associated with Dairy Food Consumption and Low-Grade Inflammation in a German Adult Population

Background: Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is a metabolite of carnitine, choline, and phosphatidylcholine, which is inversely associated with survival of cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients.Objective: We examined the associations of diet with plasma concentrations of TMAO, choline, and betaine and the associations of TMAO with plasma concentrations of various cytokines.Methods: Plasma TMAO, choline, and betaine concentrations were measured using LC-high resolution mass spectrometry in 271 participants, ≥18 y old, of the Second Bavarian Food Consumption Survey, conducted in 2002 and 2003. Food consumption was assessed using at least two 24-h dietary recalls. Cytokines were measured in plasma with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Geometric mean concentrations of TMAO, choline, and betaine by categories of meat, dairy food, egg, and fish consumption were computed, adjusted for sex, age, and BMI. Multivariable-adjusted geometric mean concentrations of cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), soluble TNF receptors (sTNF-R) p55, sTNF-R p75, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP)] were computed by quartiles of TMAO concentration using general linear models.Results: Meat, egg, or fish consumption was not associated with TMAO, choline, or betaine concentrations (all P-trend ≥ 0.05). With increases in milk and other dairy food consumption, the plasma TMAO concentration increased [geometric mean bottom quartile of milk consumption: 2.08 μM (95% CI: 1.69, 2.57 μM); compared with top quartile: 3.13 μM (95% CI: 2.56, 3.84 μM); P-trend = 0.008]. Participants in the top TMAO quartile had higher plasma concentrations of TNF-α, sTNF-R p55, and sTNF-R p75 than participants in the bottom quartile (percentage difference ranging between 14.4% and 17.3%; all P-trend < 0.05), but there were no differences in plasma concentrations of CRP and IL-6 (all P-trend ≥ 0.05).Conclusions: Results of this study conducted among healthy adults from the general population do not indicate a strong effect of diet on plasma concentrations of TMAO, choline, or betaine, with the exception of a positive association between dairy food consumption and plasma TMAO concentrations. Also, plasma TMAO concentrations were positively associated with inflammation. Whether habitual diet is strongly linked to the plasma TMAO concentration, a potential marker of CVD risk, needs to be determined in further studies.

Socioeconomic status and anthropometric changes-A meta-analytic approach from seven German cohorts.

To study the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and annual relative change in anthropometric markers in the general German adult population. Longitudinal data of 56,556 participants aged 18-83 years from seven population-based German cohort studies (CARLA, SHIP, KORA, DEGS, EPIC-Heidelberg, EPIC-Potsdam, PopGen) were analyzed by meta-analysis using a random-effects model. The indicators of SES were education and household income. On average, all participants gained weight and increased their waist circumference over the study's follow-up period. Men and women in the low education group had a 0.1 percentage points greater annual increase in weight (95% CI men: 0.06-0.20; and women: 0.06-0.12) and waist circumference (95% CI men: 0.01-0.45; and women: 0.05-0.22) than participants in the high education group. Women with low income had a 0.1 percentage points higher annual increase in weight (95% CI 0.00-0.15) and waist circumference (95% CI 0.00-0.14) than women with high income. No association was found for men between income and obesity markers. Participants with lower SES (education and for women also income) gained more weight and waist circumference than those with higher SES. These results underline the necessity to evaluate the risk of weight gain based on SES to develop more effective preventive measures.

Depression, Anxiety and Quality of Life in Long-Term Survivors of Malignant Melanoma: A Register-Based Cohort Study

AimThe purpose of the study was to determine anxiety and depression, quality of life, and their determinants in long-term survivors of malignant melanoma.MethodsIn a state cancer registry a cohort of survivors of malignant melanoma was contacted via the physician registered. Of 1302 contactable patients, 689 (52.2%) completed a questionnaire including the Patient Health Questionnaire with generalized anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9) and the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ 30). Based on multiple regression analysis, predictors of quality of life and distress were identified. Comparison data were assessed in two waves of representative face-to-face household surveys of the adult German population.ResultsAn average of 8.4 (5.7 to 12.2) years after diagnosis, distress was higher in women compared to men and in middle adulthood (vs. older patients). Symptoms were higher in women than in men, and there was a decline of functioning and increase of symptoms across the age range of both genders. Compared to the general population, there were slightly increased depression and anxiety (only women), but no impaired global quality of life. Yet, survivors evidenced functional decline and more physical symptoms. Distress and reduced quality of life were consistently predicted by lack of social support, fear of recurrence, pessimism and self-blame. Distress was increased by a family history of melanoma, and additional mental and somatic diseases.ConclusionOverall, long-term survivors have adjusted well achieving a global quality of life comparable to the general population. Yet, compromised functional dimensions, physical symptoms and distress indicate the need for integrating psychooncological screening into oncological follow-up, which might be guided by predictors such as family history or social support. Further prospective study is needed to determine the course of adaptation to the disease and corroborate the risk factors identified.

The impact of frequency rating scale formats on the measurement of latent variables in web surveys - an experimental investigation using a measure of affectivity as an example

The effects of verbal and/or numerical labeling and number of categories on the measurement of latent variables in web surveys are addressed. Data were collected online in a quota sample of the German adult population (N = 741). A randomized 2x2x2 experimental design was applied, with variation of the number of categories, as well as of verbal and numerical labeling, using an abbreviated version of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Experimental manipulation of the rating scale formats resulted in an effect on measurement model testing and reliability, as well as on factorial and convergent validity. In addition, measurement invariance between several rating scale formats was limited. With the five category end verbalized and fully labeled seven category formats, acceptable results for all measurement quality metrics could be obtained.

Demographic Changes in the Older Adult Population of Persons with Intellectual Disability in Germany

AbstractThe authors examine how the demographic structure of older adults with intellectual disability in Germany is changing. Using the example of Westphalia‐Lippe, a region with 8.3 million inhabitants, an alteration of the age structure is projected through to the year 2030. The projection is based on personal data of current recipients of services for people with disability from the regional funding authority (Landschaftsverband), as well as on educational statistics. Assumptions were drawn from the current utilization of support services. It is projected that the percentage of older adults among the German adult population with intellectual disability will increase from 10% in 2010 to 31% in 2030. In 2030, one of two residents of residential institutions will be 60 years old or older, and one of three adults will be 60 years or older who live in supported living. The authors provide a forecast for the numbers of people who will need any kind of support during the day after retirement or who will be in need of care when they get older. In cooperation with other social sectors (care for the elderly, health service system) and the local authorities, the authors suggest that providers have to adjust their services to these age‐related demands.

Decline in hepatitis E virus antibody prevalence in southeastern Germany, 1996-2011.

In the past decade, an increasing frequency of acute hepatitis E was noted in Germany and other European countries. Moreover, a high prevalence (17%) of hepatitis E virus (HEV) immunoglobulin G antibodies (anti-HEV) was recently found in the adult German population. Although this suggests an emerging pathogen, reports from other countries gave hints to a completely new aspect: a possible decrease in anti-HEV prevalence during the last decades. To investigate the time trends of hepatitis E in southeastern Germany, we performed anti-HEV testing in sera taken from adults in 1996 and 2011. Surplus serum specimens stored during routine operations of our diagnostic laboratory were used. The sample comprised two sets of 1,092 sera taken in 1996 and 2011, each with 182 specimens in six age groups from 20-79 years. Testing was performed using an HEV IgG enzyme immunoassay (EIA, Axiom Diagnostics), and the recomLine HEV IgG immunoblot (Mikrogen). A significant difference in anti-HEV prevalence was observed between the two groups: 50.7% of individuals tested positive in the 1996 group as compared to 34.3% in 2011 (EIA, P < 0.001). Results by immunoblot analysis were 20.5% (1996) versus 14.5% (2011), P < 0.001. Differences were found in all age groups and were more pronounced for the 20-39-year age group. The prevalence of anti-HEV has decreased significantly in the past decades in southeastern Germany. The phenomenon of HEV being an emerging pathogen is thus most probably due to an increasing awareness of the disease.

Headache disorders. Definitions, subtypes, and prevalence rates in Germany

Headache is a symptom experienced by many individuals throughout life. It is a complex, multidimensional construct that, for the purpose of diagnosis, relies on the subjective symptom descriptions of those affected. The classification of headaches is influenced by the frequency of the respective pain as well as the different pain qualities and their perception. In the classification of headache, a number of different methodological problems arise that influence the estimation of prevalence and incidence rates of single headache types. The aim of this manuscript is (a) to describe and discuss the methodological problems in the assessment and classification of headache in general and single headache disorders in detail and (b) to summarize their frequency in studies of the German adult population. Cross-sectional and prospective cohort studies that assessed headache in general or the prevalence and incidence rates of single headache disorders in Germany are described and methodological problems of the assessment are discussed. The application of different methods, especially in the classification of the most frequent primary headache disorders--migraine and tension-type headache--hinders the comparability of published studies. There is a clear lack of prospective cohort studies that allow a classification of single headache disorders. Given the high frequency and considerable consequences of headache disorders in Germany, only a few studies report results on the prevalence and/or incidence rates, risk factors, and individual as well as economic consequences of different headache disorders. Methodological problems in the assessment and classification of single headache disorders have contributed to this situation. Further standardization of methods in future studies is necessary.

Antecedents of international mobile Internet tariff type preferences : an empirical study of roaming customers

Purpose– International roaming (IR) makes it possible to conveniently use mobile communication services (MCS) such as MI access abroad without switching providers, devices or subscriber identity module (SIM) cards. To increase the intensity of competition in the intra-European Union market for IR services, customers will be enabled to buy IR voice and MI access services separately from their existing domestic MCS, as of July, 2014. Specifically, for separated international MI services providers can choose from three different charge types (use-dependent, flat and combination of flat and use-dependent). The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine customer preferences regarding these tariff types for separated international MI services.Design/methodology/approach– Six research questions concerning antecedents of tariff type preferences for separated international MI access services are derived from a literature review. They are empirically addressed by analyzing survey responses obtained for a sample of 496 German-speaking MCS users.Findings– Customers who actively seek for IR price information, consider IR services to be useful, exhibit high use intensities of MI services, do not restrict their MI usage when travelling abroad and tend to prefer flat rates to other pricing schemes. In contrast to these rather “active users”, customers favoring strictly use-dependent tariff plans exhibit significantly lower IR price information seeking efforts and comparatively low use intensities of MI services. Pricing schemes with MI allowances are especially liked by customers who are well-informed regarding and satisfied with IR prices, report above average use intensities of MI services, restrict their MI use abroad, are more likely to switch providers and use MCS mainly for job-related purposes.Research limitations/implications– The study is based on a German-speaking sample, which deviates from the German adult population. Additionally, the analysis is limited to stated instead of behaviorally revealed preferences for cross-border MI tariff types. Price thresholds influencing whether a cross-border MI tariff is entered into a consumer’s relevant set of offerings are not examined.Practical implications– The research suggests that mobile network operators are well-advised to offer a clearly structured menu of a limited number of tariffs directed to the three profiled customer segments. Notwithstanding the advantages of such a set of rate plans, international MI tariff schemes with a data volume allowance appear to be generally beneficial both from a provider and an end-customer perspective.Originality/value– To date, little is known about customer preferences concerning the three rate plan categories and on antecedents of such preferences in the field of MI access abroad. The present study takes a first step to narrowing this knowledge gap.

Unintentional injuries in the German adult population. Results of the "German Health Update" survey 2010

In Germany, more than 20,000 people were killed in accidents and 8.7 million people suffered nonfatal unintentional injuries (UI) in 2011. This report gives an overview of the occurrence of nonfatal UI in the German adult population. The representative health survey "German Health Update" 2010 (phone survey) collected data on nonfatal accidents in the adult population within a recall period of 12months (n = 22,050). Interviewees reporting medically treated UI responded to 19 further questions about accident locations, accident mechanisms, injuries, and consequences of up to three UI within 1 year. Overall, detailed data on 2,117 UI were collected. About 7.9 % of the German adult population suffers at least one medically treated UI within 1 year. Men are more often affected than women and young people more frequently than older people. The majority of all UI occurs at home or during leisure-time activities. One in five UI results from accidents on public footways, roads, and squares. Falls account for almost every third UI and about one in five accidents causes fractures. Two thirds of all UI require inpatient treatment. Two in three UI lead to temporary sick leave averaging 29.7 days of absenteeism. Among UI at home and in leisure-time activities, falls have particularly serious consequences. Moreover, falls play an important role in UI among pedestrians and cyclists. UI affect large parts of the German adult population and are clearly patterned by gender, age, and accident location. Therefore, prevention activities should consider target group-specific needs and setting-specific circumstances of UI.

Internet-based approaches in prevention and treatment of depressive symptoms in adolescents and young adults

Epidemiological findings indicate that up to 18.5 % of the German adolescents suffer from depressive symptoms and that younger adults display the highest risk for relevant symptoms of depression (9.9 %) within the German adult population. Internet-based interventions have been shown to be useful for preventing and treating depression and are more easily disseminated in internet-savvy generations. Available programs are usually based on principles of cognitive behavioural therapy. They differ significantly with regard to target groups, structure, content, degree of guidance provided by online-coaches and evidence for their efficacy. Whereas some studies could not prove the use of the trainings there are others that show large effect sizes (up to d = 0.84) for the reduction of depressive symptoms. In Germany there are some online counseling programs for children and adolescents in (acute) crises available. However, at this point no structured intervention program for the treatment of depression exists.