Mapping the Evolution of Research on Left-Behind Children in China: A CiteSpace Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Summary: The increase in the number of left-behind children in China has recently attracted significant attention in academic research. The objective of this study is to comprehensively examine important academic literature on left-behind children in rural China, using the resources provided by CNKI. Purpose:  This study aims to comprehensively analyse and integrate the existing research literature on left-behind children, a unique group of individuals. It will investigate the current state of research, the methodologies used, the findings, and identify potential areas for future investigations in this field. Method: A comprehensive investigation was conducted on the main Chinese literature that focuses on rural left-behind children, as well as the CSSCI journals that are accessible in the CNKI database. A grand total of 1619 relevant literary works were obtained, encompassing the time period from 2000 to 2023. Subsequently, a visual analysis was performed on these documents using CiteSpace. Results:  The CiteSpace programme was utilised to aggregate statistical data on literature pertaining to left-behind children, which was sourced from Chinese core and CSSCI journals published between 2000 and 2023 on CNKI. The primary areas of research concerning left-behind children primarily focus on their psychological well-being, their experiences in rural environments, and the factors that influence their overall welfare. Conclusion: The findings highlight the complex and serious nature of the situation of left-behind children. This study provides significant insights that can contribute to the development of theoretical frameworks, practical applications, and prospective solutions for addressing the issues experienced by left-behind children in rural China.