Psychosocial and Economic Research Trends in Sport Sciences: A Bibliometric Analysis

The main purpose of this study is to examine the field of sports economics and psychosocial relations through bibliometric analysis and to reveal the thematic structure, keyword trends, and interdisciplinary connections within the field. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Bibliometrix-R package and VOSviewer software to provide an integrated overview of research developments between 1990 and 2025. The results show that the number of publications increased steadily after 2010 and peaked in 2020, indicating growing academic interest in the holistic interaction between economic and psychosocial dimensions. Thematic and keyword analyses revealed that sports are not only associated with physical activity but also connected to economic impact, mental health, social cohesion, behavioral change, and sustainable development. Recently, emerging topics such as the metaverse, artificial intelligence, digital health, social media, and post-pandemic mental health have gained prominence, demonstrating how technological and societal transformations shape research directions. Consequently, further exploration of long-term mental health effects, the socio-economic sustainability of mega sporting events, the psychosocial contributions of digital platforms, and the role of artificial intelligence and the metaverse in the sports economy is recommended. This study offers a multidimensional and original contribution to understanding the evolving structure of the field.