Research article | Open Access
International Journal of Contemporary Approaches in Education Volume 5 (2026)
Mapping Psychological Resilience in Early Childhood: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends
pp. 1 - 12 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.29329/ijcae.2026.1476.1
Publish Date: September 25, 2026 | Single/Total View: 0/0 | Single/Total Download: 0/0
Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine the thematic structure and research trends of studies on psychological resilience in early childhood through a bibliometric approach. For this purpose, studies indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database were analyzed based on keyword co-occurrence analysis. In line with the inclusion criteria, a total of 58 articles were included in the analysis. A bibliometric science mapping approach was adopted, and VOSviewer software was used during the analysis process. The findings reveal that research on psychological resilience in early childhood is structured around five main thematic clusters. These clusters were identified as adverse childhood experiences and protective factors, resilience–stress–trauma processes, adolescence and psychological outcomes, mental health and social support systems, and child-focused studies. The network structure indicates that the concept of “resilience” occupies a central position in the field and is strongly connected to both risk factors and protective mechanisms. Temporal analysis findings suggest that earlier studies predominantly focused on risk and trauma, whereas more recent research has increasingly emphasized mental health, social support, and positive developmental experiences. The density analysis further demonstrates that resilience serves as the primary focal point in the literature, around which various thematic domains are organized. In conclusion, research on psychological resilience in early childhood has evolved toward a more comprehensive and developmentally oriented perspective over time. Accordingly, future studies are recommended to place greater emphasis on protective factors and intervention-based approaches.
Keywords: Resilience, Early Childhood, Bibliometric Analysis, Vosviewer
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