Trends in Research on the Concept of Active Ageing: A Bibliometric Analysis

Objective: This study aims to provide insights into the scientific activity in the field by conducting a bibliometric analysis of studies examining the concept of active ageing in the Web of Science_WoS database. Methods: The research includes studies retrieved from the WoS database during a search conducted on September 2, 2023, containing keywords such as "active ageing," "active and healthy ageing," "healthy and active ageing," and "ageing well." The study examined various characteristics of these studies, including their type, publication frequency, relationship with sustainable development goals, country of origin, subject, journals, co-authors, author citations, and keywords. Bibliometric analyses were conducted using VOSviewer software. Results: Out of the 1740 studies retrieved, materials such as editorials, book reviews, and conference abstracts (n=423) were excluded, leaving a total of 1317 studies for database inclusion, comprising 1203 articles and 114 reviews. Among the 1160 studies on Sustainable Development Goals, 15 out of 17 goals were covered. It was determined that 71% of the studies addressed the "Healthy and Quality Life" goal. Spain had the highest number of publications (n=201), while the United Kingdom received the most citations (n=3073). According to bibliographic matching analysis, the Gerontologist journal was identified as the most influential journal in the field. Conclusion: The number and impact of research on active ageing have increased over time. The importance and impact of research in this field hold great potential to enhance the quality of life of the future elderly population and stimulate their societal contributions.