The main purpose of this study was to analyze specificity of growth and development of pubertal boys (age 11.5 to 14.5 years). Eighty six participants of elementary school from Zagreb, Croatia were observed (according to their 22 morphological and 4 respiratory data) annually through four consecutive years. They were classified, through the hierarchical cluster analysis, according to measured data in the initial age (11.5 years). The three groups of boys were identified: the first group (the short and thin body shape) counted 29 boys, the second (elongated body shape) counted 37 boys, and the third group (with predominantly soft rounded physique) counted 20 boys. Differences between defined groups were statistically significant (analysed through the Canonical Discriminant Analysis) during the entire period under observation. The differences among groups were mainly based on the present variations concerning their soft and bony tissue. High percentage of prediction of groups (from 98.84% in initial state - 11.5 years of age to 88.37% in final state - 14.5 years of age) suggest the high stability of relation among groups, based on specificities of growth channels.

Etnologija i antropologija