Coach-athlete relationship and athlete mental health: 30 years of bibliometric mapping using VOSViewer
Abstract
This study employed a bibliometric analysis to examine and visualize the literature on coach-athlete relationships and athlete mental health from over the past 30 years using VOSViewer Software. The study identified the primary authors and countries/regions that contribute to this literature, with the United States being the leading contributor in research productivity. Scientific collaboration tends is more prevalent among academics from nations or regions with shared cultures, languages, and histories. Co-citation analysis revealed the intellectual structure of the topic, highlighting major clusters of interrelated journals. There are multiple research topics that are categorized in these groups, such as the coach-athlete relationship and athlete mental health. These findings not only enhance our understanding of the development and effectiveness of the coach-athlete relationship and athlete mental health but also contribute to the advancement of sports science. The results can inform the development of improved training policies, enhanced training methods to support athletes' mental well-being, and innovative evidence-based approaches to mental health management. Therefore, this study is highly beneficial for coaches, sports practitioners, and researchers in optimizing the coach-athlete relationship and athlete psychological well-being.
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1. The Publication Service of the University of Murcia (the publisher) has the Publication Rights (Copyright) to the published papers and works, and favors and permits the reusing of the same under the license indicated in point 2.
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