Evolving Trends in College Students' Health Education: A Bibliometric Analysis

This study offers new insights into college students' health education (CSHE) regarding its research status, hot spots, and trends by conducting a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of this field in the past decade (2014 to 2024). Specifically, we analyzed publication trends and used the bibliometric method with CiteSpace software to explore collaborative networks, detailed co-citation status, and co-occurrence dynamics based on 1358 Web of Science Core Collection articles. Our results indicate increased relevant publications and the collaboration networks show complex institutional and regional partnerships. At the same time, co-citation and co-occurrence analyses highlight interdisciplinary research themes that encompass public health. The study particularly underscores the emerging importance of mental health, global health, and innovative educational approaches. These findings reveal trends in CSHE research and provide crucial insights for future studies, stressing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and creative strategies to tackle student health challenges. Moreover, in practice, this study contributes to promoting and practicing targeted health intervention policies and countermeasures aimed at enhancing student well-being, such as establishing dedicated health education courses, providing specialized training for teachers, conducting regular health assessments, and providing funding for CSHE.