The Role of Ethical Leadership in Combating Digital Addiction and Promoting Consumer Well-being: A Systematic Review

Digital addiction has emerged as one of the most critical social injuries in contemporary Iranian society, severely threatening the mental health and psychological well-being of adolescents and young adults. Despite extensive research on smartphone and internet addiction, a significant gap remains in exploring the role of ethical leadership – particularly within Islamic–Iranian ethical frameworks – in reducing this harm and enhancing consumer well-being. This systematic review examines how ethical leadership can serve as an effective antidote to digital addiction while promoting sustainable consumer well-being. Following the PRISMA ۲۰۲۰ guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Civilica, MagIran, and Noormags databases from ۲۰۱۰ to ۲۰۲۴. After rigorous screening, ۷۲ high-quality studies (۴۳ English-language and ۲۹ Persian-language) were included for thematic synthesis. In alignment with Islamic ethical frameworks, findings reveal that leaders who embody justice (adl), benevolence (ihsan), and trustworthiness (amanah) significantly reduce addictive design practices, foster organizational self-regulation culture, and enhance psychological well-being. Specifically, leaders embodying amanah (trustworthiness) were found ۲.۷ times more likely to reject revenue model Results particularly highlight the moderating role of religious–cultural values in the Iranian context. This research addresses social injuries in the Iranian context by providing practical, culturally congruent recommendations for educational institutions, technology organizations, and policymakers, paving the way for human-centered and ethically responsible digital ecosystems.

کلیدواژه ها:

Ethical leadership ، digital addiction ، consumer well-being ، systematic review ، Islamic ethics