NCJ Number
216235
Journal
Journal of Adolescence Volume: 29 Issue: 5 Dated: October 2006 Pages: 709-720
Date Published
October 2006
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study compared two self-reported measures of puberty: Tanner’s Sexual Maturation Scale (SMS) and the Pubertal Developmental Scale (PDS) in order to examine the agreement between the two measures and the acceptability of these instruments for in a large sample of adolescents from an Australian school setting.
Abstract
The study found that although overall agreement between the two measures was moderate, both measures placed the adolescent sample within the age appropriate norms. In general, agreement was higher for females than males and was higher for the adolescents in grade seven, compared to students in grades five and nine. The gender finding was consistent with the majority of studies on gender. Agreement between the Pubertal Developmental Scale (PDS) and Sexual Maturation Scale (SMS) was best for the middle age group or 13 year olds. Pubertal maturation is a key developmental process, marking the transition from childhood to adulthood with physical and physiological changes. There has always been a great interest in research exploring relationships between pubertal maturation and other aspects of development, especially a better understanding of the impact of physical changes associated with puberty on the social and psychological development of adolescents. The purpose of this study was to examine agreement between two self-reported measures of puberty, the PDS and the SMS and their acceptability to adolescents. Study participants consisted of 2,864 students, age 9 to 16 from Victoria, Australia. Tables, figures, and references