Advances and trends in researches on group psychological training in China（2003-2022）: a visual analysis based on CiteSpace and VOSviewer

To analyze the research status of group psychological training in the field of psychological training using bibliometric methods, predict future research hotspots and development trends, and summarize the shortcomings in group psychological training.

Chinese literature related to group psychological training from 2003 to 2022 was retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure（CNKI）, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform（Wanfang）, and the VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database. Qualified literature was selected using NoteExpress V3.9, and the publication volume and journals of the qualified literature were statistically described using Excel. VOSviewer 1.6.18 was used to draw a co-authorship density view of core authors, and CiteSpace 6.1. R6 was used to draw co-occurrence maps, keyword clustering, timeline, and burst analysis for visualization analysis.

In the 3 major Chinese databases, a total of 4 757 qualified articles were included. The overall publication volume showed a slow growth trend, with medical and educational journals being the main publication outlets. Journal of Chinese Health Psychology got the top in highest number of publications, reaching 171 articles. A total of 173 core authors and representative research teams such as Yang Guoyu, Li Na, Wang Ping and Zhang Yan were identified. Co-occurrence and clustering analysis of keywords showed a focus on empirical intervention research. Keyword burst analysis indicated that themes such as quality of life, psychological state, social functioning, negative emotions, and psychological resilience were the research directions of group psychological training. Group intervention research emerged as a research hotspot, representing the future development trend of psychological training.

The research hotspots of group psychological training mainly include group psychological counseling, group psychological therapy, group psychological consultation, and group psychological training. They are reflected in areas such as college students, mental health education, positive psychology, anxiety, depression, interpersonal relationships, and psychological qualities, and have obtained certain stage achievemets. However, further exploration and improvement are still needed in theoretical research, research methods, long-term tracking and evaluation, integration of theory and practice, and interdisciplinary cooperation.