Self-Assessed Female Maturation Stages: A Research Tool

Document Type

Article

Authors

Claudia A. Kozinetz, Baylor College of Medicine

Abstract

Wide variations in growth and maturation exist; thus, chronological age does not provide instructive descriptive information. A selfassessment method for rating pubertal stage was incorporated in a field study to assess its use for population research of children and adolescents. Anthropometric and sociodemographic data from 142 black and 361 white girls, ages seven through 18, were collected. Similar proportions of subjects in this study were classified by self-assessment, at the five stages of breast development and pubic hair growth, as subjects classified by direct physician assessment in previous studies. This simple and quick method for pubertal rating should be considered for inclusion in all studies of children and adolescents.

Recommended Citation

Kozinetz, Claudia A. (1988) "Self-Assessed Female Maturation Stages: A Research Tool," Human Biology: Vol. 60: Iss. 2, Article 11.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol60/iss2/11