RESEARCH TRENDS ON FAMILY COMMUNICATION: A SCOPUS-BASED BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJLGC.1143037Keywords:
Bibliometric Analysis, Family Communication, International Collaboration, Keyword Co-occurrence, Research TrendsAbstract
Family communication has long been recognised as a fundamental element in shaping relational dynamics, psychological well-being, and social development across generations. However, a comprehensive mapping of its scholarly evolution remains limited. Nevertheless, despite increasing academic interest, the breadth of research trends, influential works, conceptual focuses, and international collaborations within this field has not been systematically assessed through bibliometric techniques. To address this gap, this study conducts a bibliometric analysis of global research on family communication to identify publication trajectories, key contributing countries, dominant research themes, and collaborative networks. Data were retrieved from the Scopus database using an advanced search strategy and filtered to include only relevant peer-reviewed documents, resulting in a final dataset of 597 publications spanning multiple disciplines. The dataset was first analysed using Scopus Analyser to generate descriptive statistics and graphical outputs on annual publication trends, citation patterns, and geographical distribution. OpenRefine was employed to clean and harmonise metadata, particularly author and keyword variations, ensuring consistency for further processing. Subsequently, VOSviewer software was used to visualise keyword co-occurrence patterns and co-authorship networks through clustering and mapping techniques. The results reveal a steady growth of scholarly output over time, with notable peaks reflecting heightened interest in family communication during periods of social and technological change. The United States (US) emerged as the most productive and influential contributor; while recurring keywords such as family communication, conversation orientation, conformity orientation, parent-child relationships, and resilience imply both theoretical foundations and contemporary thematic expansions. Co-authorship visualisations further indicate uneven international collaboration, suggesting potential for greater cross-cultural engagement. Overall, this study provides a holistic overview of the intellectual and collaborative structure of family communication research, offering insights for future studies and strengthening the understanding of how communication shapes and sustains family life.
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