Digital Citizenship and Mental Health: Impact of Screen Addiction and Online Behavior in University Life

In Pakistani universities educational environment digitizing rapidly in recent years, students rely on digital plate forms which are increasing day by day and they acquire quality education, social interactions, digital marketing and entertainment. This technology offers benefits in terms of access and convenience to it also contribute to grow mental health concerns especially the screen addition, anxiety, depression and disturbance in sleep cycle. These all cause of reduce of academic focus. This study explores the connection between digital citizenship and mental health of universities students in Pakistan. Quantitative descriptive correlational design was used in this research. Data was collected from the students across public and private universities using standardized tools such as digital citizenship scale, scree addiction scale and DASS-21. The study found a strong correlation between screen time and mental health outcome that is, more screen time, more poor mental health. Students lacked awareness of digital self-regulation and online responsibility. Security issue in digital citizenship in Pakistani Curricula is absent at higher level education. This study recommends digital citizenship, integration, training into academic program. The strategies are essential for fostering digitally responsible and psychologically and resilient student community in Pakistan higher education landscape.