News

• 2025

  November 2025

  • Interview with Associate Professor Dr Karina Weichold: Two insightful articles on the topic of puberty have been published "Die Zeit"External link and the Swiss parenting magazine"Fritz+Fränzi"pdf, 3 mb · de . Read how parents and caregivers can support adolescents in their positive development.
  • At the start of the 2025/2026 winter semester, the University of Jena’s ‘Marktplatz’ was launched. The portal de supports teaching staff, students and university employees by providing access to more than 120 resources from various departments and units of the University of Jena for digital teaching and digital learning.
    
    

  08/2025

  • Our doctoral candidate Nora Fehmer has received funding for her research project as part of the University of Jena’s “Gender in Focus – Young Talent” funding programme. The programme supports the targeted integration of gender aspects into academic work and is funded with funds from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.
    
    
  • We are delighted to welcome Dr Sheriffa Mahama back to our department as a visiting researcher and look forward to collaborating with her. Supported by the Jena Excellence Fellowship Programme, she will be focusing on the research topic "Puberty and adolescent experiences through a cross-cultural lens: Perspectives from Ghana and Germany" .

  06/2025

  • Congratulations! Associate Professor Dr Karina Weichold, Dr Theresa Manges and the IPSY8 can team have won the Poster Award at the 30th German Prevention DayExternal link

  05/2025

  • The publication of the article *Puberty through Their Lens: Insights from Youth around the World*External link offers fascinating insights into the latest research findings from the Department of Youth Research. We were even given the opportunity to design the cover of the issue!

  • Excellent conditions for a successful start to university studies. Friedrich Schiller University Jena has received top marks in the latest CHE ranking – particularly for its support at the beginning of students’ studies and for helping students complete their degree within the standard period of study.

  04/2025

  • The guidance document on the objectives and quality criteria for school-based prevention and development support programmesExternal link, commissioned by the DFK, is now available in a new edition, revised in consultation with representatives from the field of school education.

  03/2025

  • Our blog post for the Society for Research on AdolescenceExternal link provides a culturally sensitive overview of how young people in Ghana and Kenya experience puberty, highlighting both differences and similarities.

  01/2025

  • StudyCheckExternal link: the University of Jena receives a Category Award and ranks among Germany’s most popular universities
• 2024

  • Since September 2024, the book"Developmental Psychology of Adolescence and Young Adulthood"External link has been available to buy from Kohlhammer Verlag and in bookshops (ISBN: 978-3-17-030143-6).
    
    
  • The collaborative project with Techniker Krankenkasse on the nationwide implementation of the IPSY addiction prevention life skills programme has been extended into its second funding phase, running from 2024 to 2028.
• 2023

  • StudyCheck: 1st place for the University of Jena
    
    
  • New Vice-President at the University of Jena: Senate elects Karina Weichold as Vice-President for Learning and Teaching
    
    
  • In early 2024, our book"Developmental Psychology of Adolescence and Young Adulthood"External link will be published by Kohlhammer Verlag.
    
    
  • A revised new edition of our book "Addiction Prevention in Schools. IPSY – A Life Skills Programme for Years 5–7"External link will be published shortly by Hogrefe.
    
    
  • The collaboration project with Techniker Krankenkasse has been extended until February 2024.
    
    
  • In 2023, the University of Jena was voted one of the top 10 German institutions of higher education.External link
    
    
  • The B.A. Psychology programme as a minor subject at Friedrich Schiller University Jena received a 100% recommendation rating on studycheck.deExternal link!
• 2022

  • Associate Professor Dr Karina Weichold has been awarded the ISSBD Fellowship Award
    ISSBD Fellow – In recognition of outstanding contributions to the field of lifespan human development

Articles in the public media

• Print and online media

  • Young people aren’t the problempdf, 2 mb · de – Frankfurter Rundschau, 28 May 2026
    
    
  • A negative view of puberty –External link Tagesspiegel, 9 April 2026
    
    
  • The biggest mistake: underestimating pubertyExternal link – Die Zeit, No. 46, 2 November 2025
    
    
  • Trapped in desirepdf, 3 mb · de – Fritz+Fränzi parents’ magazine, November 2025
    
    
  • Is there a constant in the ‘youth’ formula?pdf, 392 kb · de – Die Zeit, May/June 2025

  • How young people’s sexual behaviour is changingExternal link – SWR Wissen, 4 March 2025
  • IPSY – Addiction prevention in schoolsExternal link – Interview with Hogrefe Verlag, 14 March 2024
    
    
  • What on earth are you eating?pdf, 150 kb · de – Süddeutsche Zeitung, No. 52, 2–3 March 2024
  • Why on earth are you doing that?pdf, 164 kb · de – Süddeutsche Zeitung, No. 226, 30 September/1 October 2023
    
    
  • Building resilience for life – How a tried-and-tested prevention programme from the University of Jena can help schools during the pandemicpdf, 4 mb · de – Thüringer Allgemeine, 24 August 2021
    
    
  • The Thin Skinpdf, 2 mb · de – Ostthüringer Zeitung, 6 November 2020
    
    
  • That Was to Be Expectedpdf, 1 mb · de – Spiegel, No. 32, 1 August 2020
    
    
  • fortyfour – The Prevention MagazineExternal link – Interview with Associate Professor Dr Karina Weichold, No. 34, Summer 2020
    
    
  • Saying ‘No’ Simply and Firmlypdf, 861 kb · de – Ostthüringer Zeitung, 2 March 2018
    
    
  • Puberty around the world – Celebrate the days!pdf, 3 mb · de – Die Zeit, No. 45, October 2016
    
    
  • GEOkompakt – Pubertypdf, 11 mb · de – Interview with Dr Karina Weichold, No. 45, December 2015
    
    
  • Stronger personalities are more likely to say no to drugspdf, 709 kb · de – Thüringer Landeszeitung, 2 October 2015
    
    
  • No alcohol, no smoking: Jena researchers present an addiction prevention programme at Thuringian schoolspdf, 380 kb · de – Thüringer Allgemeine, 24 August 2015
    
    
  • "Curriculum" for addiction preventionpdf, 796 kb · de – Freies Wort, 19 August 2015
• Television

  • Feature on the MDR Thüringen JournalExternal link on 24 April 2024 – IPSY aims to teach young people life skills
    
    
  • Feature in the MDR Thüringen JournalExternal link on 1 March 2018 (report on the programme at the Orlatalgymnasium in Neustadt an der Orla)
    
    We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the school management, Class 6a and their form tutor, Ms Peschel, at the Orlatalgymnasium for their willingness to participate in this report!
    
    
  • Feature in the MDR Thüringen JournalExternal link on 8 August 2017 (report on the programme from a training workshop in Jena)
• Radio

  • From First Communion to tests of courage – How rites of passage are changingExternal link, Deutschlandfunk, 7 April 2024
    
    
  • Violence amongst young people: causes and how to deal with itExternal link, LandesWelle Thüringen, 12 April 2023
• Press releases

  • Preventing addiction by building resilience – CommunicationsExternal linkand Press Office, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena; 27 February 2018
    
    
  • School-based addiction prevention programme: teacher workshops begin, registrations still openExternal link
    Press release from Techniker Krankenkasse – Thuringia Regional Office; 1 October 2015