Abstract

This study examined digital citizenship and its influence on students' online behaviour and mental health in secondary schools, with implications for guidance and counselling in Enugu Education Zone. The increasing use of digital technologies among adolescents has raised concerns about responsible online behaviour and psychological well-being, making digital citizenship an important framework for addressing these challenges. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population comprised all public secondary school students in Enugu Education Zone, while a sample of 120 students was selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Findings from descriptive statistics and regression analysis revealed that digital citizenship significantly predicts students' online behaviour and mental health. The study concluded that students with higher levels of digital citizenship demonstrate more responsible online behaviour and better psychological well-being. It was recommended that digital citizenship education be integrated into school curricula, while guidance and counselling services should be strengthened to support students' digital behaviour and mental health.

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