A Comparative Study on Mental Health Among University Students in China and Kazakhstan: Integrated Intervention of Traditional Philosophies and Positive Psychology

Mental health problems among university students have become a common public health issue around the world. This study uses the Depression–Anxiety–Stress Scale (DASS-21) to compare mental health conditions between 1912 Chinese university students and 1024 Kazakh university students. Results show that the detection rates of depression (42.5%) and anxiety (60.2%) are significantly higher among Chinese students, while the detection rate of stress (40.5%) is significantly higher among Kazakh students. Based on respective cultural traditions, this study integrates Wang Yangming’s Psychology of Mind and Ahmad Yasawi’s Sufi thought with positive psychology to build culturally adapted intervention models. Findings show that traditional philosophical ideas effectively support mental health improvement. In addition, China and Kazakhstan can strengthen mutual learning and cross-national cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative to jointly promote the healthy development of youth mental health.