Abstract

• The main aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between optimal attachment and positive youth development of adolescents in Myanmar. Thus, this study examined the optimal attachment of adolescents by gender, family types and number of siblings. In addition, the study analyzed adolescents’ positive youth development by gender and parents’ education level. A total of 1110 participants (Grade 9 and Grade 10 students) from six regions and four states were selected by using random sampling technique. Explanatory sequential mixed method was used. Inventory of Parental and Peer Attachment (Ercan Kocayourk, 2010) (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.89) was used to measure the optimal attachment of adolescents. Then, Positive Youth Development Inventory (Arnold, 2012) (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.92) was used to examine the positive youth development of adolescents. According to the results of independent samples t-test, it was found that there were significant differences in optimal attachment by gender. Moreover, the ANOVA results revealed that there were also significant differences in optimal attachment by family types and number of siblings. Concerning positive youth development of adolescents, the results of independent samples t-test showed that there were significant differences in positive youth development by gender. Then, ANOVA results showed significant differences in positive youth development by parents’ education level. Moreover, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation revealed that the optimal attachment of adolescents was positively correlated with their positive youth development (r = 0.425, p < 0.01). Therefore, it can be concluded that the quality of optimal attachment can cause the well positive youth development of adolescents.