Digitization is leading to fundamental changes in our society and our individual lives. This harbors opportunities and risks for our health. In some cases, our dealings with digital technologies and media lead to negative stress (distress), burnout, depression and other health impairments. In contrast, stress can also have a positive, stimulating effect (eustress) that needs to be promoted. Technology design is well advanced so that digital technologies and media can preserve and promote the health of their human users thanks to increasing artificial intelligence, adaptivity and interactivity.
The aim of the ForDigitHealth research network is to scientifically understand the health effects of the increasing presence and intensified use of digital technologies and media – especially with regard to the emergence of digital distress and eustress and their consequences – in all their diversity and to develop and develop prevention and intervention options evaluate. In this way, the research network should contribute to an appropriate, conscious and health-promoting individual and collective use of digital technologies and media.
The network is researching in eleven sub-projects from medicine and the social and technical sciences at the following five Bavarian universities: University of Augsburg, Otto Friedrich University of Bamberg, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and Julius -Maximilian University of Würzburg.
Co-spokespersons of the association are Prof. Dr. Elisabeth André (IT/University of Augsburg) and Prof. Dr. Nicolas Rohleder (Psychology/Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg).