Cross-cultural comparative study of the risk of mental health disorders among young adult university students in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates.

This article presents a cross-cultural comparative study examining the risk of mental health disorders among young adult university students in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), validated across languages and cultures, the study found that 15% to 18% of participants were at risk of mental health disorders, with stress being more prevalent than anxiety and depression. Notably, students from Bangladesh exhibited a higher risk across all subscales compared to their counterparts in the other three countries. Demographic factors such as nationality, age, gender, and prior training in mental health were significantly associated with variations in depression, anxiety, and stress levels. The findings underscore the need for tailored mental health awareness programs and targeted interventions by policymakers in these countries to address the specific vulnerabilities of young adults in university settings.