Analysis of Research Trends on Quality of Life: A Focus on Articles Published in Quality of Life Research in Springer Nature

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study examined research trends in the field of Quality of Life by analyzing author-provided keywords from articles published in Quality of Life Research in Springer Nature. To achieve this, keyword data extracted from Quality of Life Research in Springer Nature were cleaned, followed by frequency and centrality analyses, and the construction of a keyword network map. The results revealed that quality of life and health-related quality of life were the most frequent and central concepts in the network. In addition, clinically oriented terms such as patient-reported outcomes, depression, and EQ-5D occupied prominent positions in the network. Cluster analysis based on keyword interconnections identified four major research domains: clinical Quality of Life, mental health, scale development and validation, and Quality of Life research focused on specific population groups. These findings demonstrate that Quality of Life scholarship remains heavily concentrated within medical and health-related contexts. In contrast, keywords related to digital health, Quality of Life in education, and community environmental factors appeared far less frequently, indicating potential avenues for future expansion. By visualizing keywords of Quality of Life research, this study provides essential groundwork for guiding future research directions.