Discriminant analysis of pubertal maturation in young males based on anthropometric characteristics

• Published in: Revista brasileira de cineantropometria & desempenho humano 2014-01, Vol.16 (1), p.96-105
• Main Authors: Medeiros, Radames Maciel Vitor, Arrais, Ricardo Fernando, de Azevedo, Jenner Chrystian Verissimo, de Medeiros, Jason Azevedo, de Andrade, Ricardo Dias, Fonteles, Andre Igor, do Rego, Jeferson Tafarel Pereira, Dantas, Paulo Moreira Silva
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• ISSN: 1415-8426; 1980-0037
• DOI: 10.5007/1980-0037.2014v16n1p96

The relationship between anthropometric variables and maturation stages is important for a more detailed monitoring of pubertal development and may provide a suitable tool for clinical diagnosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the predictive contribution of anthropometric variables to pubertal maturation using multivariate discriminant analysis. A total of 190 boys aged 8 to 18 years, from public and private schools in Natal, Brazil, participated in the study. Thirty-two anthropometric variables were measured and pubertal maturation was evaluated objectively by observing pubic hair development. Measures of central tendency and dispersion, inferential analysis of variance, and multivariate discriminant analysis were used for statistical analysis. Pubertal advancement was accompanied by significant changes in anthropometric variables (p