A Consideration of Cultural and Social Differences in the Formation of Psychological Capital Among College Students in China and Russia

In the context of globalization and increasing academic mobility, studies on cross-cultural differences in the development of personal resources have gained particular importance. Psychological capital, which includes optimism, hope, resilience, and self-efficacy, is a key factor in students' successful adaptation and professional development. This review aims to identify and systematize cultural and social differences in the formation of psychological capital among college students in China and Russia. The review is based on the analysis of scientific literature published between 2015 and 2025. Methods of systematization, comparative analysis, and data synthesis were used. The search was conducted in the Google Scholar database using key terms in Russian and English. After filtering, 124 publications were selected for detailed analysis. From this array of sources, 30 of the most significant, representative, and methodologically sound publications were included in the reference list. It was found that the formation of psychological capital in China and Russia is determined by fundamentally different cultural paradigms (collectivism vs. individualism) and social contexts (systemic state support vs. fragmented local initiatives). Chinese students demonstrate a higher level of collectivist attitudes and social resilience, while Russian participants tend to exhibit a more individualistic orientation and a stronger sense of self-efficacy formed under conditions of greater personal responsibility. The results confirm the significance of cultural and social factors in shaping psychological capital. The need to develop adapted programs of psychological and pedagogical support that take into account national specifics is a key conclusion of the work. Future research prospects are related to an in-depth analysis of the influence of digital transformation on the development of students' personal resources in both countries.