Bibliometrics Insights Into Social Workers’ Quality of Professional Life: Trends and Themes (1981–2024)

This study aims to map the growth trends and thematic clusters in the academic literature focusing on factors affecting the professional quality of life of social workers, such as stress management, burn out, compassion fatigue, and secondary trauma. The research includes a bibliometrics analysis of 599 publications from 1981 to 2024. Data were retrieved from the Web of Science database using keyword-based search methods. Co-citation analysis, keyword analysis, and science mapping were conducted using VOSviewer software.The study reveals an annual growth rate of 33.56% in the literature, with the majority of publications originating from the United States, Israel, and Canada. Key thematic clusters identified in the literature include burnout, compassion fatigue, shared trauma, and secondary trauma. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly contributed to an increase in relevant literature. There is a need for intervention and training programs at both individual and institutional levels to enhance the professional quality of life of social workers. The study provides a literature-based roadmap for researchers in this field.