Exploring the Role of Social Media in Mental Health Research: A Bibliometric and Content Analysis

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the global development of social media and mental health research and analyze publishing trends within the esteemed Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases, shedding light on the growing significance of this interdisciplinary field for understanding the interplay between digital technologies and mental well-being. Leveraging ScientoPy, the study analyzed factors such as publication numbers, primary research themes, top countries, subject areas, frequently used author keywords, preferred sources, and institutional data. Visualization maps and content analysis were created using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny, respectively. The analysis encompassed 3,119 entries from the Scopus and WoS databases, revealing a notable upward trajectory in social media and mental health research. Psychology emerged as the most prominent subject area, with the United States being the most productive country. Keywords such as "social media," "depression," and "mental health" saw a significant surge in popularity during 2021 and 2022. This study offers readers and future researchers a comprehensive global perspective on key topics in social media and mental health, facilitating the structuring of data for the development of robust theories and practices in this domain.