Research Landscape and Emerging Frontiers in Pediatric Music Therapy: A Bibliometric Visualization Study.

Abstract

This bibliometric study aimed to characterize publication patterns, collaboration networks, keyword structures, and temporal trends in pediatric music therapy. We analyzed 518 PubMed-indexed articles published between January 2016 and August 2025 using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, SCImago Graphica, and Excel. Publication and collaboration activities were concentrated in North America, Europe, and Asia. Keyword analyses identified themes involving cognitive function, language development, motor skills, mental health, quality of life, creative arts therapy, and systems analysis. The literature also spanned pediatrics, nursing, public health, physical therapy, and complementary medicine. Online delivery became more prominent during the COVID-19 period, and recent keywords included digital health-related topics. However, the keyword network remained sparse, indicating limited integration across research themes. These findings describe the intellectual structure and thematic development of the field but do not establish the clinical effectiveness of music therapy. Future research should prioritize methodological standardization, broader collaboration, and rigorous clinical evaluation.