Global Research Trends in Social Competence and Adjustment in Children: A Bibliometric and Network Analysis Approach

Osman Söner; Sümeyye Dündar; Beyza Kırca; Ali Haydar Şar

doi:10.19126/suje.1907205

Global Research Trends in Social Competence and Adjustment in Children: A Bibliometric and Network Analysis Approach

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global research on social competence and social adjustment in children published between 1980 and 2025. The dataset was systematically retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection and analyzed using the Bibliometrix R-package within the RStudio environment to ensure methodological rigor and analytical consistency. The final dataset comprises 1,077 publications distributed across 531 scientific sources, including peer-reviewed journals, books, and conference proceedings, and authored by 6,084 unique researchers. Authorship patterns reveal a highly collaborative research structure, with an average of 6.94 co-authors per document and an international collaboration rate of 31.1%, indicating a strongly globalized and networked research field. The average document age of 3.86 years reflects the contemporary and dynamic nature of the literature, while the field demonstrates a steady expansion with an annual growth rate of 7.59%. In terms of document typology, research articles (n = 698) constitute the dominant publication format, followed by reviews (n = 154) and proceedings papers (n = 150), alongside smaller numbers of book chapters, editorial materials, and other document types. Overall, this bibliometric mapping offers an integrative overview of the intellectual structure, collaboration patterns, and publication dynamics of research on children’s social competence and social adjustment, providing a robust foundation for identifying emerging trends and guiding future research directions in the field.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Psychological Counseling and Guidance (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Osman Söner ^*
0000-0001-9741-5357
Türkiye

Sümeyye Dündar
0009-0003-6265-0519
Türkiye

Beyza Kırca
0000-0002-3709-5846
Türkiye

Ali Haydar Şar
0000-0001-7086-4021
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

July 24, 2026

Publication Date

August 10, 2026

Submission Date

March 11, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 2, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 16 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.19126/suje.1907205

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA58LU76LS

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Söner, O., Dündar, S., Kırca, B., & Şar, A. H. (2026). Global Research Trends in Social Competence and Adjustment in Children: A Bibliometric and Network Analysis Approach. Sakarya University Journal of Education, 16(2), 190-210. https://doi.org/10.19126/suje.1907205

AMA

1.Söner O, Dündar S, Kırca B, Şar AH. Global Research Trends in Social Competence and Adjustment in Children: A Bibliometric and Network Analysis Approach. SUJE. 2026;16(2):190-210. doi:10.19126/suje.1907205

Chicago

Söner, Osman, Sümeyye Dündar, Beyza Kırca, and Ali Haydar Şar. 2026. “Global Research Trends in Social Competence and Adjustment in Children: A Bibliometric and Network Analysis Approach”. Sakarya University Journal of Education 16 (2): 190-210. https://doi.org/10.19126/suje.1907205.

EndNote

Söner O, Dündar S, Kırca B, Şar AH (August 1, 2026) Global Research Trends in Social Competence and Adjustment in Children: A Bibliometric and Network Analysis Approach. Sakarya University Journal of Education 16 2 190–210.

IEEE

[1]O. Söner, S. Dündar, B. Kırca, and A. H. Şar, “Global Research Trends in Social Competence and Adjustment in Children: A Bibliometric and Network Analysis Approach”, SUJE, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 190–210, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.19126/suje.1907205.

ISNAD

Söner, Osman - Dündar, Sümeyye - Kırca, Beyza - Şar, Ali Haydar. “Global Research Trends in Social Competence and Adjustment in Children: A Bibliometric and Network Analysis Approach”. Sakarya University Journal of Education 16/2 (August 1, 2026): 190-210. https://doi.org/10.19126/suje.1907205.

JAMA

1.Söner O, Dündar S, Kırca B, Şar AH. Global Research Trends in Social Competence and Adjustment in Children: A Bibliometric and Network Analysis Approach. SUJE. 2026;16:190–210.

MLA

Söner, Osman, et al. “Global Research Trends in Social Competence and Adjustment in Children: A Bibliometric and Network Analysis Approach”. Sakarya University Journal of Education, vol. 16, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 190-1, doi:10.19126/suje.1907205.

Vancouver

1.Osman Söner, Sümeyye Dündar, Beyza Kırca, Ali Haydar Şar. Global Research Trends in Social Competence and Adjustment in Children: A Bibliometric and Network Analysis Approach. SUJE. 2026 Aug. 1;16(2):190-21. doi:10.19126/suje.1907205