Associations of Parental and Peer Attachment with Psychological Difficulties Among Adolescents Aged 15–17 Years in Yogyakarta

Background: Adolescent mental health is an important public health concern because it can affect psychological, social, and academic development. Data from the Indonesia National Adolescent Mental Health Survey (I-NAMHS) indicate that approximately one in three Indonesian adolescents experienced mental health problems in the preceding 12 months. Parental and peer attachment are among the social factors that may be associated with adolescent mental health. A preliminary study at SMP Muhammadiyah 1 Kalasan identified students experiencing psychological distress, limited openness toward their parents, and reluctance to share personal problems with peers. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the associations between parental, peer attachment, and mental health among adolescents aged 15–17 years at SMP Muhammadiyah 1 Kalasan in 2026. Methods: This quantitative study employed a cross-sectional design. The study population comprised all students aged 15–17 years at SMP Muhammadiyah 1 Kalasan. Total sampling was used to recruit participants from the target population. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses, with Kendall’s tau correlation test used to examine the associations between the study variables. Results: Parental attachments were not significantly associated with adolescent mental health (p = 0.880). In contrast, peer attachment was significantly associated with adolescent mental health (p = 0.048). The association between peer attachment and mental health was positive and weak, indicating that higher levels of peer attachment tended to correspond with better mental health. Conclusion: Parental attachments were not significantly associated with mental health among adolescents aged 15–17 years in this study. However, peer attachment demonstrated a significant, albeit weak, positive association with adolescent mental health. These findings highlight the potential relevance of supportive peer relationships in promoting adolescent mental well-being. Further research involving larger and more diverse populations is needed to clarify the relationships between family dynamics, peer attachment, and adolescent mental health.