What is claimed is a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) with anionic and/or cationic properties and retarded swelling action, which was prepared by polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated vinyl compounds. This SAP is characterized in that its swelling begins no earlier than after 5 minutes and in that it was prepared with the aid of at least one process variant selected from the group of a) polymerizing the monomer components in the presence of a combination consisting of at least one hydrolysis-stable crosslinker and at least one hydrolysis-labile crosslinker; b) polymerizing at least one permanently anionic monomer and at least one hydrolysable cationic monomer; c) coating a core polymer component with at least one further polyelectrolyte as a shell polymer; d) polymerizing at least one hydrolysis-stable monomer with at least one hydrolysis-labile monomer in the presence of at least one crosslinker. Owing to the variability of the three preparation alternatives with regard to the starting materials and the process conditions, but also owing to the possible combinations with one another, the present invention can provide superabsorbent polymers which are suitable especially for use in foams, mouldings and fibres, but also as carriers for plant growth- and fungal growth-regulating agents, and for controlled release of active ingredients, or in construction materials. The present polymers are suitable especially for use as construction material additives.