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Validation of the Korean version of the Pubertal Development Scale (PDS-K): a non-invasive self-report tool for epidemiological use

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: As the average age of pubertal onset continues to decline, the need for reliable and culturally appropriate tools to assess pubertal development has become increasingly important. However, no validated, non-invasive, self-report instrument has been available for use in Korea. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and evaluate the Korean version of the Pubertal Development Scale (PDS-K). The original PDS was translated using a forward-backward translation procedure and reviewed by experts to ensure cultural relevance. The PDS-K was administered to a total of 217 elementary school students (grades 4-6). Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were evaluated using Cronbach's α, item-total correlations, Cohen's kappa, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). The PDS-K demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's α: boys=0.79; girls=0.74) and good test-retest reliability (ICCs: 0.77 for boys; 0.87 for girls). Sex-specific patterns of pubertal progression were also observed. Although further validation across broader age groups and against clinical benchmarks is warranted, the PDS-K provides a practical and culturally adapted tool for the non-invasive assessment of pubertal development and holds promise for large-scale epidemiological research.

Source: Epidemiology and Health

DOI: 10.4178/epih.e2025059