Shen B, Guan T, Ma J, Yang L, Liu Y. Social network research hotspots and trends in public health: A bibliometric and visual analysis.
PUBLIC HEALTH IN PRACTICE 2021;
2:100155. [PMID:
36101592 PMCID:
PMC9461482 DOI:
10.1016/j.puhip.2021.100155]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives
To understand the research landscape and identify the research hotspots and trends of the application of social network theory and analysis to public health.
Study design
A bibliometric study of publications regarding application of social network theory and analysis to public health.
Methods
Choosing 1607 articles about the application of social network theory and analysis to public health from the core collection database of Web of Science published from 1991 to 2020 as the research sample. A bibliometric and visual analysis of publication quantity and content was performed to analyze time trends, spatial distribution, cooperation networks, influential references, and keyword co-occurrence, clusters, and emergence.
Results
There is an increasing trend in the use of social network theory and analysis in the public health field, with the United States taking the lead. Research focuses include on transmission of diseases or behavior through social networks and the influence of social networks on population health at different ages. Current research frontiers primarily include the role of social networks in tracking of emerging infectious diseases like COVID-19, preventing and controlling chronic diseases, and carrying out healthy behavioral interventions.
Conclusions
This study provides a comprehensive quantitative overview of the historic development of and latest topics in the application of social network theory and analysis method to public health. More attention should be paid to the important role of social networks in tracing the emergence of serious infectious diseases like COVID-19, as well as preventing and controlling chronic diseases and intervening in health behaviors, considering the increasing challenges and opportunities presented by online social networking.
The use of social network theory and analysis (SNT/A) in public health has grown sharply since 2007.
The United States has taken the lead in this field of research, with some active institutions in the U.S. and the Europe.
The transmission of diseases or behaviors within social networks is a major research focus in this interdisciplinary field.
Research frontiers primarily include using SNT/A to track, prevent and control diseases, like COVID-19.
Collapse