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The Journal of Early Adolescence
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A Validation Study of Early Adolescents’ Pubertal Self-Assessments

Katharine E. Schmitz

San Diego State University

Melbourne F. Hovell

San Diego State University

Jeanne F. Nichols

San Diego State University

Veronica L. Irvin

San Diego State University

Kristen Keating

San Diego State University

Gayle M. Simon

San Diego State University

Christine Gehrman

San Diego State University

Kenneth Lee Jones

University of California, San Diego, Children’s Hospital, San Diego

This study aimed to determine whether self-assessed puberty is sufficiently reliable and valid to substitute for physician examination when feasibility of physician examination is low (e.g., behavioral research). Adolescents (convenience sample N = 178 endocrinology patients and N = 125 from educational trial; mean age 12.7 and 11.3 years, respectively) participated. Self-assessments were validated against physician Tanner ratings and by associations with bone density, gender, and age. Highest exact agreement between physicians and adolescents was 54% for females’ and 55% for males’ ratings of pubic hair. More than 85% agreement within one stage was obtained for most measures. Significant associations were found for age and bone between adolescents in earlier and later stages of development and for developmental stage between genders for each age group. Results suggest predictive and discriminate validity of self-assessments. Self-assessments may be useful when estimates of pubertal development are sufficient and for studies barred from physician examination.

Key Words: validation • self-assessment • puberty • adolescent • Tanner

The Journal of Early Adolescence, Vol. 24, No. 4, 357-384 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/0272431604268531
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[Abstract] [PDF]