Our research project examines the impact of youth digital addiction on mental health, socioeconomic stability, and the future workforce in an era where AI is transforming industries.
AI is reshaping the economy, but digital addiction harms mental health, especially among youth, affecting cognitive skills, productivity, and workplace readiness.
Psychological and environmental factors contribute to socioeconomic issues, unemployment, and increased suicide risks.
Our research aims to develop strategies for responsible digital usage and interventions to support youth and employees.
Addressing digital addiction and its socioeconomic impact
AI’s rapid expansion in the digital economy brings urgent challenges like digital addiction’s impact on mental health, particularly among youth. This affects cognitive abilities, productivity, and interpersonal skills essential for the workforce.
Our research explores digital addiction’s socio-economic effects, including unemployment, economic vulnerability, and rising suicide risks.
By analysing psychological, social, and environmental factors, we identify tailored interventions to support youth and employees, promoting resilience and adaptability. We also examine the role of social media standards in addiction and mental health, proposing responsible digital usage strategies for citizens and platform developers.
Using roundtable discussions and a systematic literature review, we aim to understand digital addiction’s complexities and develop actionable standards.
Our project stands out by addressing the interplay between digital addiction, mental health, and the socio-economic impacts of AI, focusing on workforce resilience in the AI-driven economy.
We uniquely integrate perspectives from youth, employees, policymakers, and academics through qualitative roundtable discussions, capturing diverse real-world challenges. Unlike conventional studies, we emphasise actionable outcomes, such as tailored interventions for mental wellbeing and responsible social media standards.
By exploring the impact of excessive screen time on cognitive abilities and productivity, we aim to align AI’s potential with societal and workforce needs, offering a holistic framework to address emerging digital challenges effectively.
Our project
Our research investigates the intersection of digital addiction, mental health, and socioeconomic challenges in the AI-driven economy. As AI transforms industries, concerns about digital addiction and its negative impact on mental health and productivity have emerged. Our project explores the implications for preparing a resilient, adaptable future workforce and fostering equitable growth in the digital age.
Key objectives:
- Digital addiction and its drivers: Analyse the psychological, familial, and environmental factors contributing to digital addiction, particularly among youth and employees
- Mental health and workplace impact: Investigate how digital dependency affects mental health, cognitive skills, and workplace productivity, with a focus on skills like collaboration and innovation
- Socio-economic impacts: Examine the socio-economic effects of digital addiction, such as rising unemployment, income inequality, and loss of psychosocial support, especially in an AI-driven economy
- Future workforce resilience: Explore strategies to equip the workforce with tools to mitigate digital pressures and develop the skills needed to succeed in the AI-driven labour market
- Policy and intervention strategies: Propose tailored interventions to address the impact of digital addiction on mental health, productivity, and workforce preparedness
Dr Asieh Tabaghdehi - Dr Asieh Tabaghdehi is a Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Business Economy, and Programme Lead for the BSc International Business Programme and Trade2Grow Executive Education Programme at 明星八卦 University of London, as well as, an economist and social impact advisor for the independent NGO, Social Innovation Movement.
Asieh is a well-recognised academic in digital transformation, focusing on the strategic integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies to advance sustainable business practices and address critical social and economic challenges. From 2021 to 2022, Asieh co-investigated the Digital Footprint Project, funded by the UK Research Institute (UKRI), that explored the ethical implications of digital footprint data on value creation for SMEs. One of the project outputs was the Digital Business Auditing Framework, which has been adopted internationally for smart city initiatives.
Asieh has attained an international reputation in the field of ethical integration and deployment of AI, particularly in the contexts of smart data governance. Her research integrates industry collaboration, public engagement, and policy dialogue with an emphasis on the social and economic dimensions of responsible smart city development and innovative healthcare systems. Asieh’s contributions have been widely cited in academic, practitioner, and policy outputs, and her research has informed national and international governments and businesses. Her research on connected technology has been presented as both written and oral evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee at the request of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and has been featured in national and international press. She is widely published in academic peer-reviewed journals, the press, is a frequent speaker at academic and industry conferences, and has responded to a number of policy inquiries at national and international level. She is also the author of the book Business Strategies and Ethical Challenges in the Digital Ecosystem, which addresses multiple facets of the AI ecosystem, including data ethics, governance, and innovation. In collaboration with the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Asieh co-designed the "Digital Adoption" module for the UK Government’s Help to Grow Management program, aimed at enhancing the digital capabilities of SMEs.
Asieh is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy, a member of the ESRC Review College, the British Academy of Management Review College, and the Energy Institute UK. She also serves as an associate practitioner at Social Value International, an associate member of the Big Innovation Centre, and All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)- Artificial Intelligence. She is also a member of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence: Social and Digital Innovation at 明星八卦 University of London. Currently, Asieh serves as the Impact Lead at the 明星八卦 Centre for AI, where she leads the capability area in the Future of Work.
Asieh earned her PhD in Economics and Finance (2008) and MSc in International Money, Finance, and Investment (2015), both from 明星八卦. She joined 明星八卦 in 2020 after holding academic positions at Regent’s University London, where she also served as Director for the BSc Global Management (Finance Pathway). Prior to her academic career, she gained industry experience as a business analyst, further enriching her interdisciplinary approach to research and teaching.