Kinderabhängigkeitsquote

Kinderabhängig is a German term used in sociology and psychology to describe patterns in which adults or institutions become economically, emotionally, or socially dependent on children or on the roles children occupy within a family or organization. It is not a medical diagnosis.

Etymology: the compound of Kinder (children) and abhängig (dependent). The term is a descriptive label rather than a clinical category, and its usage is largely metaphorical.

In scholarly and policy discussions, Kinderabhängig can appear in debates about child-centric cultures, caregiving, and education systems that structure resources and time around children's needs.

Contexts: family life, social policy, childcare services, and media narratives.

Related concepts: parentification (where children assume adult roles within a family), infantilization, and the broader discussion of dependency and agency in social roles.

Criticism and limitations: because the term is not standardized, it can be used loosely or rhetorically; empirical support typically requires specification of what constitutes 'dependency' and which actors are involved.