Mental Health in the Post-Lockdown Scenario: A Scientometric Investigation of the Main Thematic Trends of Research

Abstract

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, researchers and clinicians have published scientific articles on the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its medical, organizational, financial, and psychological implications. However, many effects have been observed in the post-lockdown scenario. In this study, we adopted a scientometric–bibliometric approach to drawing the state of the art regarding the emotional and psychological effects of the pandemic after the lockdown. In Scopus, we found 791 papers that were subsequently analyzed using CiteSpace. The document co-citation analysis (DCA) computation generated a network of eight major clusters, each representing a central area of investigation. Specifically, one major cluster—cluster no. 1—focuses on the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and individuals’ ability to develop adaptive coping mechanisms and resilience. The results allow us to frame the fields covered by researchers more precisely and the areas that still need more investigation.

Scientific Mapping of Publication on Climate Change Education (CCE) using Bibliometric Analysis

“…The ability to explore and analyze visual networks facilitates the identification of important nodes, clusters, and trends. The five processes of bibliometric analysis include keyword selection, preliminary search results, search refining, preliminary data statistics, and data analysis creation (Cataldo et al, 2023;Setyaningsih et al, 2018). Global CO2 emissions have decreased because of lockdowns and the cessation of industrial activity (Khojasteh et al, 2022).…”

On the path to recovery: traumatic stress research during the COVID-19 pandemic 2021–2023

“…Together with observational studies, large-scale, international efforts to investigate the effectiveness, safety, and usability of low intensity, high impact, sustainable, and culturally sensitive interventions for high-risk groups, that are accessible and scalable will improve preparedness for future pandemics. A recent scientometric analysis on the key thematic trends in mental health research in the post-lockdown period, up until 31 December 2022, recommended, based on existing literature, that a research priority focus should be on the ‘developmental trajectories of children and adolescents to determine the long-term consequences of the pandemic and post-lockdown period on education, relationships, and mental health’ (Cataldo et al, 2023 , p. 15). This includes early interventions in youth with risk factors for developing mental illness, as well as research on COVID-19 related fears and other psychopathology in the peri- and postpartum (Shiffman et al, 2023 ), and investigation of interventions to support mothers during this period.…”