Tracing Mental Strength: A Bibliometric Mapping of Research on Psychological Resilience in Sports

Abstract

This study examines the structure of scientific production on psychological resilience in sport, analyzing 749 articles published between 1983 and 2025 using bibliometric methods. Data were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection, and the systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA flow diagram guidelines. Bibliometric analyses were performed using the R-based Bibliometrix package. The findings revealed a total of 28,069 citations, with an average of 26.91 citations per article. The University of Granada (n=28) was identified as the most productive institution, while Sarkar M. (n=11) and Fletcher D. (n=8) emerged as the most prolific authors. The journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise stood out with the highest h-index (h=20). Key terms such as "fitness" (138 occurrences) and "exercise" (134 occurrences) were the most frequently repeated keywords in the literature, while concepts like "mental health" and "online learning" have shown a notable rise in recent years, influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, international collaboration was most prominent among the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive perspective on the temporal development, thematic evolution, and international network structure of the psychological resilience literature in sport.

Keywords

• Psychological resilience
• sport
• bibliometrics
• literature review
• collaboration
• themes

Zihinsel Gücün İzinde: Sporda Psikolojik Sağlamlık Araştırmalarının Bibliyometrik Haritası

Abstract

Bu çalışma, sporda psikolojik sağlamlık alanındaki bilimsel üretimin yapısını 1983-2025 yılları arasındaki 749 makale üzerinden bibliyometrik yöntemlerle incelemektedir. Veriler Web of Science Core Collection veri tabanından çekilmiş, sistematik literatür taraması PRISMA akış şeması rehberliğinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bibliometrik analizlerde R tabanlı Bibliometrix paketi kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen bulgulara göre, makalelerin toplam atıf sayısı 28.069 olup, makale başına ortalama 26,91 atıf düşmektedir. Alanın en üretken kurumu University of Granada (n=28) olurken, en fazla yayın yapan yazarlar Sarkar M. (n=11) ve Fletcher D. (n=8) olmuştur. Psychology of Sport and Exercise dergisi, en yüksek h-indeksine (h=20) sahip yayın organı olarak öne çıkmıştır. Analizlerde "fitness" (138 kez) ve "exercise" (134 kez) gibi anahtar kelimelerin literatürde en sık tekrarlandığı görülmüş; COVID-19 pandemisinin etkisiyle "mental health" ve "online learning" gibi kavramların da son yıllarda yükselişe geçtiği belirlenmiştir. Çalışma ayrıca ülkeler arası işbirliğinde Birleşik Krallık, ABD ve Avustralya'nın merkezi konumda olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Genel olarak çalışma, sporda psikolojik sağlamlık literatürünün zamansal gelişimi, tematik evrimi ve uluslararası ağ yapısına ilişkin kapsamlı bir perspektif sunmaktadır.

Keywords

• psikolojik sağlamlık
• spor
• bibliyometri
• literatür taraması
• iş birliği
• temalar

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