A Bibliometric Evaluation of the Relationship Between Sports, Psychology, and Economics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71125/sporteconres.21Keywords:
Bibliometric analysis, interdisciplinary research, mental well-being, socio-economic factors , sport scienceAbstract
This study aimed to examine the interdisciplinary relationship between sports, psychology, and economics through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis. A total of 335 publications indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) database were identified in the second quarter of 2025 using an advanced search within the abstract field. The data were analyzed using Bibliometrix R and VOSviewer software. The analysis included annual publication trends, citation averages, international author collaborations, keyword co-occurrences, and conceptual network structures. Additionally, thematic evolution and the temporal development of research topics were visualized through trending topic maps and co-occurrence networks. The results indicate a notable increase in scientific production at the intersection of these fields, particularly after the mid-2000s, accompanied by a growing conceptual integration. Findings suggest that sports should be approached not only as a physical performance domain, but also as a multifaceted structure shaped by psychological and economic factors. Overall, this study maps the existing literature landscape and provides a conceptual framework that may guide future interdisciplinary research in sports economics and sports psychology.
References
Alwan, S. A., Jawad, K. K., Alyaseri, N. H. A., Subhi, K. A., Hussein, E. K., Aned, A. M., & Abed, R. A. (2023). The psychological effects of perfectionism on sport, economic and engineering students. Revista Iberoamericana de Psicología del Ejercicio y el Deporte, 18(3), 330-333.
Aria, M., & Cuccurullo, C. (2017). Bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis. Journal of Informetrics, 11(4), 959-975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007
Büyükkıdık, S. (2022). Bibliometric analysis: A tutorial for the Bibliometrix package in R using IRT literature. Journal of Measurement and Evaluation in Education and Psychology, 13(3), 164–193. https://doi.org/10.21031/epod.1069307 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21031/epod.1069307
Dertli, M. E., & Erden Dertli, S. (2025). Research trends in the field of sport informatics and technology [in Turkish]. In V. Alaeddinoğlu, M. F. Alaeddinoğlu, A. Yıkılgan, & Y. Sepil (Eds.), Physical Education and Sport Research in a Digitalizing World (pp. 73–96). Özgür Publishing. https://doi.org/10.58830/ozgur.pub797.c3391 DOI: https://doi.org/10.58830/ozgur.pub797.c3391
Donthu, N., Kumar, S., & Pandey, N. (2020). A retrospective evaluation of Marketing Intelligence & Planning: 1983-2019. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 39(1), 48-73. https://doi.org/10.1108/MIP-02-2020-0066 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/MIP-02-2020-0066
Donthu, N., Kumar, S., Mukherjee, D., Pandey, N., & Lim, W. M. (2021a). How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 133, 285-296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.04.070 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.04.070
Donthu, N., Kumar, S., Pandey, N., & Lim, W. M. (2021b). Research constituents, intellectual structure, and collaboration patterns in Journal of International Marketing: An analytical retrospective. Journal of International Marketing, 29(2), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069031X211004234 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1069031X211004234
Lii, T. H. (2023). Mega sport events as drivers of entrepreneurship: Bridging the gap between economics and psychology. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 48(3), 296-317. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJESB.2023.129293 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1504/IJESB.2023.129293
Lu, H. (2024). The influence of physical exercise on the consumer psychology and behaviour of different economic sports audiences. Revista de Psicología del Deporte (Journal of Sport Psychology), 33(1), 153-163.
Millet, G. P., Brocherie, F., & Burtscher, J. (2021). Olympic sports science—Bibliometric analysis of all Summer and Winter Olympic sports research. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3, Article 772140. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.772140 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.772140
Sanderson, J., & Brown, K. (2020). COVID-19 and youth sports: Psychological, developmental, and economic impacts. International Journal of Sport Communication, 13(3), 313-323. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsc.2020-0236 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsc.2020-0236
Tsilika, K. (2023). Exploring the contributions to mathematical economics: A bibliometric analysis using Bibliometrix and VOSviewer. Mathematics, 11(22), Article 4703. https://doi.org/10.3390/math11224703 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/math11224703
Turaç, G. (2024). The role of sport-oriented recreation areas on public health and social interaction. Journal of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, 18(3), 621–636. https://doi.org/10.61962/bsd.1588768
Türkoğlu, H., & Semiz, L. (2025). PEM fuel cells in the field of green sustainable science and technology: A bibliometric analysis. Black Sea Journal of Science, 15(1), 217–247. https://doi.org/10.31466/kfbd.1535686 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31466/kfbd.1535686
Van Eck, N., & Waltman, L. (2010). Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping. Scientometrics, 84(2), 523-538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-009-0146-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-009-0146-3
Verma, S., & Gustafsson, A. (2020). Investigating the emerging COVID-19 research trends in the field of business and management: A bibliometric analysis approach. Journal of Business Research, 118, 253-261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.06.057 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.06.057
Yılmaz, O., & Dertli, Ş. (2025). The development of sports and politics publications over time. International Journal of Sport Culture and Science, 13(2), 160-180. https://doi.org/10.14486/IntJSCS.2024.742 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14486/IntJSCS.2025.742
Yimer, A. M. (2025). Socio-economic and psychological impact of sport and virtual betting among youth in North Wollo Zone: Evidence from Ethiopia. Public Organization Review, 25(2), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-025-00813-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-025-00813-4
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Emirhan Kan

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.


