Knowledge base and hotspot trends in adolescents' meaning in life: a scientometric review based on CiteSpace analysis

Using Cite Space to analyze 237 articles from the Web of Science on adolescents' meaning in life, four key scholars and pivotal papers have laid the foundation for knowledge in conceptual frameworks, measurement tools, and influencing factors. Current research hotspots include the relationship between meaning in life and personal growth, social support, adolescent risk behaviors, and strategies to enhance adolescents’ sense of meaning. Research frontiers are exploring emerging adulthood, psychometric properties, and search for meaning. This field is primarily nested within personal, educational, and social systems, with rapid advancements in multiple hotspots and frontier areas. Future research should broaden methodologies, enrich topics, consider cultural contexts, and promote interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and localized development to further understand adolescents' meaning in life.