Research Trends and Thematic Evolution in Child Safeguarding in Sport: A Bibliometric Analysis

Aim: This study aimed to map research trends and thematic evolution in child safeguarding in sport and to identify the major topics, emerging areas, and international collaboration patterns shaping the field. Method: A systematic search of the Web of Science Core Collection identified 200 eligible publications. The retrieved records were analyzed using bibliometric methods in R with the bibliometrix package to examine publication trends, international collaboration, thematic structure, and thematic evolution. Results: Publication activity increased markedly from the mid-2010s, accompanied by strong international collaboration among several European countries, Canada, Australia, and the United States. Thematic mapping identified safe sport, safeguarding, sexual abuse, violence, prevention, and children’s rights as major areas of the field. Thematic evolution further showed a shift from earlier emphases on child protection, maltreatment, and sexual abuse toward broader concerns involving interpersonal violence, emotional abuse, and safeguarding. Conclusion: Child safeguarding in sport has developed into an increasingly diverse and internationally connected research field. Future research should further investigate comparatively less developed and emerging areas, particularly children’s rights, emotional abuse, policy implementation, reporting mechanisms, and the integration of children’s perspectives into safeguarding practice.