A Bibliometric Analysis of Research on Extracurricular Sports Activities and Attitudes

Abstract The aim of this study is to reveal the research trends, conceptual structures, influential authors, collaboration networks and geographical distributions in the field by conducting a bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on extracurricular sports activities and attitudes. The study aims to systematically evaluate the current status of the literature in the field and to provide inferences that can guide future research. Method: 153 documents published in the Web of Science database between 1980 and 2025 were examined. The data were analyzed with VOSviewer and Bibliometrix R programs. Findings: ‘Attitudes’, ‘children’, ‘sport’ were the most frequently used terms. The USA, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada stood out as the most effective countries. Conclusion: Extracurricular sports activities and attitudes have become an increasingly popular area of interest in the literature. This study contributes to understanding the current structure and future research directions in the field.