jugendspezifische

Jugendspezifische is an attributive adjective in German that denotes something tailored to or specific for youth. It is used to describe programs, services, or measures designed to meet the particular needs, interests, and life situations of young people. The exact upper age limit for who counts as youth varies by policy field and context, and jugendspezifische approaches are typically contrasted with universal or family-centered options.

In usage, jugendspezifische is placed before the noun it qualifies, for example jugendspezifische Beratungsangebote, jugendspezifische Präventionsprogramme, jugendspezifische Gesundheitsförderung or jugendspezifische Lernunterstützung. The term appears in policy documents, program descriptions, and academic writings to indicate targeted design, delivery, and evaluation.

Contexts where jugendspezifische interventions are common include education and training, health promotion, social work, juvenile justice, and digital or media literacy. Such measures aim to reflect developmental stages, social environments, and risk or opportunity factors that particularly affect young people, such as transitions from school to work, peer influence, or changing digital participation.

Critically, the term implies categorization by age group but acknowledges heterogeneity within youth populations. When used, it should avoid essentializing young people or overlooking intersections with gender, migration background, disability, or socio-economic status. In research and practice, focus is on aligning content, access, and evaluation with youth-specific contexts and lived experiences.

Related concepts include Jugendpolitik (youth policy), Jugendhilfe (youth welfare), and youth-focused health promotion. In academic and policy discourse, jugendspezifische Aspekte or jugendspezifische Bedürfnisse are common collocations to discuss tailored approaches.