How to interpret Box’s M p-value p > .05 → Assumption met: The covariance matrices (how the DVs relate to each other) are similar across all groups. • You can confidently use the standard MANOVA test statistics: Wilks’ Lambda, Pillai’s Trace, etc. p < .05 → Assumption violated: The covariance matrices differ between groups, which breaks one of MANOVA’s key assumptions. • This makes certain MANOVA test results, especially Wilks’ Lambda, less reliable, it assumes equal covariance matrices. • Instead, rely on Pillai’s Trace, which is more robust and still valid even if this assumption is violated.