Research status of Internet addiction in recent 20 years: an metrological analysis based on CiteSpace

ObjectiveTo analyze the status, research hotspot and trend of papers from authors and institutions of domestic core journals in recent 20 years based on bibliometrics analysis, to provide reference for researchers to understand the current situation and development trend of Internet addiction.

MethodsThe Chinese databases were searched by computer, and the literatures about Internet addiction were retrieved from January 2001 to April 2020.CiteSpace software was used to conduct bibliometric analysis on the research authors, institutions, clustering words, mutation words and so on, and the knowledge map was drawn.

ResultsThe number of research papers in the field of Internet addiction in China showed a rapid increase from 2001 to 2008.The research on Internet addiction experienced two stages of development from 2001 to 2008, and from 2009 to now.At present, the research hotspots mainly focused on the object, influencing factor, mental health and behavior education of Internet addiction.With the development of deepening research, there emerged some institutions and authors with high influence in the field of Internet addiction.

ConclusionsDrawing the knowledge map of relevant literatures in the field of Internet addiction using CiteSpace software can fully display the research direction, hotspot and development trend in the field of Internet addiction.