Journal article
Half a Century of Research for Mind-Body Interventions: A Scientometric Analysis
Mindfulness
17 May 2025
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
ObjectivesWe conducted a scientometric analysis on mind-body interventions to assess themes and trends in recent decades, providing insights for prospective research directions. Our systematic search, completed on 1 November, 2023, encompassed the Web of Science Core Collection and focused on scientific publications related to contemplative practices: Mindfulness, Yoga, Qi-gong, Tai-chi, Vipassana, Zen, Loving-kindness, and Transcendental meditation.MethodIntegration of network analyses and bibliometrics using Bibliometrix and CiteSpace allowed us to identify evolving research themes. Our primary objective was to measure the evolution of research trends, while secondary aims involved uncovering influence networks tied to countries, publications, institutions, and authors. Co-citation reference networks specific to each mind-body practice were extracted.ResultsOur analysis incorporated 16,310 documents (389,632 references) spanning the years 1973 to 2023, forming a well-structured network with credible clustering. The overarching dataset highlighted the dominance of mindfulness practice in the realm of mind-body interventions. To further explore research patterns, we explored individual co-citation reference networks for each practice, revealing varying sizes for Mindfulness (n = 2278), Yoga (n = 1303), Qi-gong (n = 582), Tai-chi (n = 1000), Vipassana (n = 344), Zen (n = 454), Loving-kindness (n = 552), and Transcendental meditation (n = 834). Each practice exhibited distinct clusters, focusing on applications for diverse mental disorders and physical health issues, ranging from substance abuse to schizophrenia, and from back pain to dementia.ConclusionsWhile research on mind-body interventions has been predominantly influenced by mindfulness in recent decades, each type of mind-body intervention contributes uniquely to both theoretical and clinical contexts. These insights have significant implications for funding agencies and research groups, guiding future directions in the field.PreregistrationThe preregistered protocol can be found online (https://osf.io/qzb3c/).
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Details
- Title
- Half a Century of Research for Mind-Body Interventions: A Scientometric Analysis
- Creators
- Michel Sabe - Univ Hosp Geneva, Dept Psychiat, Div Adult Psychiat, 2 Chemin Petit Bel Air, CH-1226 Thonex, SwitzerlandChaomei Chen - Drexel UniversityDavy Vancampfort - KU LeuvenJoseph Firth - University of ManchesterLee Smith - Anglia Ruskin UniversityBrendon Stubbs - Kings Coll London, Inst Psychiat Psychol & Neurosci IoPPN, Dept Psychol Med, London, EnglandSimon Rosenbaum - UNSW SydneyFelipe Barreto Schuch - Univ Fed Santa Maria, Dept Sports Methods & Tech, BR-97105900 Santa Maria, RS, BrazilPaco Prada - Univ Hosp Geneva, Consultat Liaison & Crisis Intervent, Geneva, SwitzerlandLuigi Francesco Saccaro - Univ Hosp Geneva, Dept Psychiat, Div Adult Psychiat, 2 Chemin Petit Bel Air, CH-1226 Thonex, SwitzerlandNader Perroud - Univ Hosp Geneva, Dept Psychiat, Div Psychiat Specialties, Geneva, SwitzerlandCamille Piguet - University of GenevaOthman Sentissi - Univ Hosp Geneva, Dept Psychiat, Div Adult Psychiat, 2 Chemin Petit Bel Air, CH-1226 Thonex, SwitzerlandKerem Boege - Campus Benjamin FranklinMarco Solmi - Ottawa Hosp, Dept Mental Hlth, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Publication Details
- Mindfulness
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 15
- Grant note
- University of Geneva
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Information Science (Informatics)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001489545500001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105005113654
- Other Identifier
- 991022054402404721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Psychiatry
- Psychology, Clinical