Trends in the Field of Mammalian Social Behavior and Health Over the Last 20 Years

Abstract

In any scientific field there are thematic changes over time as new technologies and methods of investigation are developed and accumulated knowledge drives new research directions. The current study examines how themes in the investigation of social behavior and health have changed over the last 20 years. Literature searches were performed to identify articles published between 1993-2012 that investigate the intersection between social behavior and health in mammals. Results identify the top journals that publish articles in this field and describe trends in how sub-divisions in social behavior (e.g. aggression or dominance) and health (e.g. immunity or brain chemicals) have changed over the last 20 years. Our results suggest a dramatic increase in publications on the intersection between social behavior and health over this time span. Major categories of study include relationships between general social behavior or social stress and health outcomes relating to stress responses, endocrinology, and the brain.