A Keyword Network Analysis of Research Trends on Maladjustment in Early Childhood

This study aimed to identify the major conceptual structure and research trends in studies on maladjustment in early childhood through a keyword network analysis of academic papers published in South Korea. A total of 101 papers related to early childhood maladjustment, published between 2001 and 2025 and indexed in RISS, were selected for analysis. Using TEXTOM, key terms were extracted through text mining, followed by N-gram analysis, centrality analysis (degree, closeness, and betweenness centrality), and cluster analysis. As a result of the frequency analysis, the keywords teacher, mother, relationship, and society appeared with the highest frequencies. The N-gram analysis showed that discussions of young children’s maladjustment primarily formed an integrated semantic network around treatment, the role of educational institutions, and the role of mothers. In the centrality analysis, results, teacher, relationship, and society were identified as having high degree centrality. The cluster analysis revealed three groups, which were named, based on the semantic characteristics and associations of the major keywords, as “teacher- and institution-centered maladjustment support,” “treatment programs and interventions,” and “maladjustment characteristics and influencing factors.” This study provides a systematic overview of the knowledge structure of early childhood maladjustment research and offers foundational insights for future research directions and practical intervention strategies.