Mankind
Quarterly, Vol. 44, No. 2 (Winter 2003)
pp.
175-184
Sexual Maturation
in Well-Off Chandigarh Boys: A Longitudinal Study.
A.K. Bhalla
The pattern of sexual maturation
among 134 adolescent boys representing well-off socioeconomic
strata of Chandigarh, India was studied as per Tanner's
(1962) method following a mixed longitudinal research
design. An early sign of onset of puberty in boys
was the development of genitalia (i.e., stage G-II)
at a mean age of 11.5 years. This was followed by
the appearance of axillary (13.4 years) and pubic
hair (13.5 years). Facial hair (14.0 years) was the
last to appear. The change of voice occurred at a
mean age of 15.5 years. Age of initiation of genitalia
development (i.e., stage G-II) in the development
of Chandigarh boys was found to be generally similar
to that of boys of American and British origin, but
slower than that of many other Indian communities.
With regard to the completion of genitalia development
(i.e., Stage G-V), when compared to adolescents of
both Western and Indian origin, Chandigarh boys demonstrated
substantial differences in age-related development,
which may be due to genetic (racial/ethnic) and/or
cultural differences.
