Background The research project was carried out from December 2002 to July 2005 at the University of Regensburg under the scientific leadership of Prof. Dr. Alexander Thomas as well as the qualified psychologists Ms Heike Abt and Ms Celine Chang in cooperation with the German Federation of Associations for Cultural Youth Education (Bundesvereinigung Kulturelle Jugendbildung), the International Youth Community Services (Internationale jugend-gemeinschaftsdienste), the German Federal Youth Council (Deutscher Bundesjugendring) and the Bavarian Youth Council (Bayerischer Jugendring). The project was funded by the German Youth Stamp Foundation (Stiftung Jugendmarke).