Mental Health in Islamic Boarding Schools from an Islamic Psychology Perspective: A Literature Review

Abstract

The highly regulated and communal environment of Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) presents unique psychological stressors for students (santri), often leading to adjustment disorders, anxiety, and academic burnout. However, conventional Western psychological interventions frequently overlook the spiritual dimension which is central to the pesantren lifestyle, resulting in suboptimal outcomes. This study aims to reconstruct a mental health framework within pesantren using an Islamic Psychology perspective through a systematic literature review. Employing a qualitative library research design, data were harvested from authoritative Islamic texts (turath) and contemporary academic journals published between 2020 and 2025. The data were analyzed using interpretive content analysis to synthesize indigenous therapeutic concepts. The findings reveal that Islamic Psychology reinterprets psychological distress not merely as pathology, but as a spiritual struggle (mujahadah) rooted in the condition of the soul (Nafs). Key therapeutic mechanisms identified include Tazkiyatun Nafs (soul purification) as a core healing process, Dhikr (remembrance of God) for emotional regulation, and the paternal role of the Kyai in providing existential security. The study concludes that the pesantren functions as a natural "therapeutic community" where mental resilience is achieved by integrating spiritual discipline with communal social support. This research contributes a holistic model of well-being that harmonizes clinical needs with religious values, offering a culturally congruent approach to mental health in Islamic education.