Physical activity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: Research profiling and mapping

Abstract

Background and Study Aim: The aim of the study is to profile and map the scientific output in research on physical activity in the COVID-19 context. The study makes an attempt to response to the three following questions: (1) What are the leading contributors (countries, research institutions, authors and source titles) to research production in the field? (2) What are the core references? (3) What are the leading thematic areas / research fronts? Material and Methods: We used the Scopus database as a source of bibliometric data for the research sampling process and employed a combination of bibliometric methods, including research profiling and selected science mapping methods, i.e. co-word analysis and direct citation analysis, in order to achieve the aim of the study and provide responses to the study questions. Science mapping processes were supported with VOSviewer software. Results: Research profiling indicates that the main contributors to scientific output on physical activity in the COVID-19 context are scholars and research institutions from countries, which have been heavily affected by the pandemic such as: the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Brazil. Certainly, the reports from China, which was the first nation to suffer from COVID-19 and associated epidemic restrictions, constitute an important input, too. The core references in research on physical activity in the COVID-19 context may be grouped into three categories aimed at: (1) investigating the consequences of pandemic restrictions on physical activity, (2) analysing the outcomes of physical activity for other variables, and (3) providing recommendations for practising home-based physical activity during COVID-19 confinement. Science mapping of the research field conceptual structure indicates the following thematic areas / research fronts in research on physical activity in the COVID-19 context: (1) ‘pandemic and its outcomes’, (2) ‘physical activity during self-isolation’, (3) ‘health behaviour’, (4) ‘food habits’, (5) ‘mental health’, (6) ‘adults and the pandemic’. Conclusions: The study contributes to development of physical activity theory by profiling and mapping research conducted in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through mapping the scientific output, the paper points out the leading contributors and core references, and makes an attempt to identify leading thematic areas / research fronts. Discovering the main signposts may be useful for all the researchers planning and designing research within the field. Moreover, mapping research fronts indicates them the topics attracting attention of the academia and potential research gaps.