Digital future beyond pandemic outbreak: systematic review of the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on digital psychology

Abstract

Purpose

The globe has experienced a devastating COVID-19 pandemic, putting the planet under lockdown and causing social alienation. The near collapse of social and economic activities is disrupting the supply chain. Customer-required products were in low supply across the world. A slew of new digital firms springs up to fill the need during this time. This study aims to reach a holistic goal by better understanding customers' digitalisation behaviour. The first step is to review existing consumer digital psychology research to map this study’s current knowledge of the pandemic's early and late phases and the impact of digital businesses on consumer behaviour. Finally, it provides lawmakers with a future agenda for limiting the digital psychology of consumers and enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the Scopus and Web of Science databases to extract records to follow the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statement. The final 57 papers were applied after the screening process. The digital environment, psychological digitalisation and behavioural changes were recognised as three primary classes based on a comprehensive examination of the previous literature. This study identified possible difficulties in earlier literature: the scarcity of collaborative and transdisciplinary research on digital psychology, which various academics have emphasised in the past. On the other hand, these investigations were primarily conducted in the psychological surroundings of technology users.

Findings

According to this study, digital psychology has improved significantly during the pandemic and many new digital start-ups have arisen. This study also used digital research to create a framework for a pandemic strategic response plan to help minimise the current COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for future outbreaks.

Originality/value

The study mapped existing literature on digital psychology alterations because of the novel COVID-19 outbreak.

Citation

Khan, M., Khan, N., Begum, S. and Qureshi, M.I. (2024), "Digital future beyond pandemic outbreak: systematic review of the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on digital psychology", Foresight, Vol. 26 No. 1, pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1108/FS-02-2021-0044