Hot topics and trends in sports research related to college students: a bibliometric systematic review
Creators: name: Wang, Shuaibo
name: Zhou, Xinglong
Publisher: name: The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada
Year: 2022

description: Background: This study aimed to use CiteSpace software to conduct a bibliometric analysis of published studies related to college students from 2000 to 2020. The study also aimed to determine publication patterns and to identify recent trends for research in this field. Methods: Publications on the association between cognitive function and pain between 2000 and 2020 were identified from the Web of Science database. We used the keywords “college” OR “university” AND "students" AND "Sport" in databases. 2,614 publications were identified. Bibliographic information, including country, citation frequency, changes in a citation, and interactive visualization were generated using CiteSpace software. Co-citation, or frequency of two publications cited together by another publication, was also studied. Results: The sports research related to college students keeps increasing. (125 articles in 2010, 384 articles in 2020), but it is still in infancy. The United States (1051 publications) and the University of North Carolina (80 publications) were the most productive country and institution, respectively. The journal, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (45 publications) had the largest number of publications, and the journal, Medicine &amp; Science in Sports &amp; Exercise was the most frequently cited journal (citation counts, 520) with the highest centrality (32), that indicates that the journal is important. The field of this study mainly focuses on alcohol and sports, injury prevention and mental health. Before 2015，the relationship between alcohol use and the collegiate student is a research hot topic. Researchers explored the impact of different levels of exercise, education background, game day on alcohol consumption. Besides, the relationship between membership of a university sports group and drinking behavior and the influence of sporting idols on alcohol have also been studied. After 2015, Injury prevention and monitoring of athletes becoming a hot topic of research, especially sudden death and concussion. International Consensus Conferences on Concussion issued a Consensus statement on concussion to provide athletic trainers, physicians, and other health care professionals with best-practice guidelines for the management of sport-related concussions. The statement is revised every four years. National Athletic Trainers' Association also issued a Position Statement about Management of Sport Concussion to help college students’ recovery, and even return to the game. Researchers are also paying more attention to psychological factors. The researchers focused on the psychological factors that affect performance, such as mindfulness and self-determination. Importance should be placed on improving the mental health of elite athletes. Researchers explored depression and anxiety in elite players and the difference of depressive symptoms in high-performance athletes and non-athletes. Apart from the research hotspots mentioned earlier. researchers' interest in dual-career of student-athletes and physical activities for college students, especially sedentary behavior have also increased. Conclusions: Bibliometric analysis of the association between pain and cognitive function might identify new directions for future research. In addition to maintaining the focus on the psychology and injury of college athletes, research should also strengthen the physical activity of college students. Funding: No Funding Received
description: The Health &amp; Fitness Journal of Canada, Vol. 14 No. 3 (2021): Proceedings from the 8th International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress