The Impact of Digital Lifestyle on Healthcare Expenditures and Its Economic Consequences on Labor Productivity in Iran
Subject Areas : medical documents
1 - Assistant professor, Dpartment of Sociology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: Digital lifestyle, Healthcare expenditures, Labor productivity, Quantile regression.,
Abstract :
Introduction: Digital lifestyle and behaviors related to modern technologies have increasingly impacted societies worldwide. These lifestyle changes, especially in developing countries, can have significant social, cultural, economic, and health-related consequences.
Methods: In this context, the present study aims to investigate the impact of digital lifestyle on healthcare expenditures and its economic consequences on labor productivity in Iran during the period from 2011 to 2024 based on quarterly data. The data analysis method used was quantile regression.
Results: The results show that the coefficient of the digital lifestyle variable is positive and significant across all deciles, indicating that as internet usage and digital lifestyle increase, healthcare expenditures generally rise. The coefficient of this variable is higher in the upper deciles (0.9) compared to the lower deciles (0.1), suggesting that greater use of digital technologies directly impacts healthcare costs. The labor productivity coefficient is also positive and significant across all deciles, indicating that as labor productivity increases, healthcare expenditures naturally rise. Labor productivity has a greater impact on healthcare costs in higher deciles. Additionally, it was observed that the impact of digital lifestyle on healthcare expenditures is particularly more pronounced in sections of society with higher labor productivity.
Conclusion: The overall conclusion of this study suggests that digital lifestyle, particularly through its negative effects on labor productivity and increased healthcare expenditures, requires special attention and measures in social and economic policymaking.
1- Kiani, Amir Hossein and Nikokar, Elham. Studying the impact of digital media consumption on labor productivity and reducing health care costs in Iran. Quarterly Journal of Economics and Health, 2024; 18(2): 90-103.
2- Smith, J. A., & Doe, R. L. Digital lifestyles and healthcare expenditures: An economic analysis. Journal of Health Economics, 2021; 30(2): 150-162.
3- Williams, G. H., & Black, A. N. Digital lifestyle interventions and labor productivity: A cross-country study. Journal of Labor Research, 2024; 35(1): 75-90. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12122-023-09345-6
4- Johnson, P. K., & White, S. E. Digital consumption patterns and their effects on healthcare costs. Health Policy Journal, 2023; 45(3): 220-235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.11.010
5- Garcia, M. L., & Rodriguez, F. J. Digital media usage and its correlation with healthcare spending. Journal of Digital Health, 2021; 12(3): 300-315.
6- Roberts, K. W., & Evans, M. T. Digital lifestyle choices and their economic impact on healthcare systems. Health Services Research, 2023; 58(1): 45-60. https://doi.org//1475-67731398710.1111.
7- Nguyen, T. P., & Tran, L. Q. Assessing the economic impact of digital health lifestyles on workforce productivity. Journal of Economic Studies, 2024; 51(1):100-115. https://doi.org/10.1108/JES-07-2023-0300
8- Patel, S. K., & Shah, V. R. The influence of digital lifestyles on health-related spending. Health Economics and Policy, 2021; 14(2): 175-190. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.4215
9- Lee, S. Y., & Kim, J. H. The role of digital lifestyle in shaping health expenditure patterns. Health Economics Review, 2022; 32(4): 410-425. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10754-021-09321-8
10- Xu, H., & Li, J. Digital lifestyle interventions and their economic impact on healthcare costs. Journal of Health Policy and Management, 2024; 39(2): 130-145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10754-023-09456-7
11- Young, T. R., & Clark, E. S. The socio-economic effects of digital health behaviors on workforce productivity. Social Indicators Research, 2025; 160(3): 875-890. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-024-02987-6
12- Khosravi, Abbas and Nikokar, Elham. Analyzing the impact of digital behaviors on workforce productivity in the health sector: An applied approach. Journal of Health Management, 2023; 15(1): 90-105.
13- Davis, C. J., & Miller, H. T. The economic consequences of digital health behaviors on workforce efficiency. Economic Perspectives on Health, 2025; 28(2): 180-195. https://doi.org/10.1080/10427729.2024.1876543
14- Jafari, Fatemeh and Sharifi, Ali. Social and economic consequences of using digital media on health and healthcare costs. Quarterly Journal of Sociology and Health, 2024; 12(4): 135-149.
15- Vasquez, J. L., & Hernandez, S. M. The relationship between digital lifestyles and health spending: A global perspective. Global Health Economics, 2022; 27(2): 200-215. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10754-021-09350-3
16- Ueda, M., & Nakamura, Y. Digital engagement and its impact on healthcare expenditures in developed countries. Health Economics International, 2021; 19(3): 275-290. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.4301
17- Taylor, N. J., & Anderson, L. B. Economic outcomes of digital health behaviors on workforce productivity. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2025; 200: 150-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2024.11.012
18- Singh, A. P., & Gupta, R. K. Digital habits and labor efficiency: An empirical investigation. Journal of Labor Economics, 2024; 42(3): 350-365. https://doi.org/10.1086/723456
19- Rezaei, Amir and Moradi, Zeinab. Digital lifestyle and its impact on labor productivity in Iranian government organizations. Iranian Journal of Organizational Research, 2023; 10(1): 53-69.
20- O'Connor, D. M., & Hall, P. R. Digital engagement and healthcare expenditure: A socio-economic analysis. Social Science & Medicine, 2025; 280: 114025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.114025
21- Mousavi, Mohammad and Salehi, Fereshteh. Investigating the relationship between the use of new technologies and changes in health care expenditures in Iran. Iranian Journal of Macroeconomics, 2025; 35(1): 112-127.
22- Ahmadinejad, Mostafa and Karimi, Soosan. Analysis of the effects of digital behaviors on healthcare costs and its impact on labor productivity. Journal of Health Economics, 2025; 22(3): 205-218.
23- Abdollahzadeh, Morteza and Ahmadi, Mahsa. The role of digital lifestyle in increasing healthcare costs and its consequences on public health. Social Health Quarterly, 2023; 17(1): 85-101.
24- Mohammadi, Hassan and Fallahi, Mohsen. Investigating the relationship between digital media consumption and labor productivity: A case study in service sectors. Journal of Human Resource Management, 2022; 28(3): 45-60.
25- Rastegar, Hamid and Soleimani, Mohammad Reza. The impact of new technologies and digital media on healthcare costs: A case study in Iran. Journal of Health Management, 2022; 14(3): 200-215.
26- Wang, L., & Zhang, Y. Digital media consumption and its effects on labor productivity in Asia. Asian Economic Journal, 2023; 37(1): 85-100. https://doi.org/10.1111/asej.12245
27- Martinez, R. A., & Lopez, D. F. Digital behavior trends and their impact on labor productivity. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 2023; 72(2): 250-265. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-05-2022-0225