A Comparative Trend Analysis of Domestic and International Body-Painting Research Using Text Mining Techniques

Purpose: Given the burgeoning interdisciplinary nature of body painting, which interfaces with domains such as beauty science, medical education, and material science, a systematic investigation of research trends in this area is warranted. The present study sought to comparatively analyze the trends in domestic and international body painting research utilizing text mining methodologies. Methods: Altogether, 71 domestic and 54 international journal articles were systematically retrieved from major academic databases, comprising 18,456 tokens and 2,387 types in domestic research and 6,562 tokens and 1,558 types in international studies. Text mining techniques, including time-series analysis, U-Matrix clustering, and multidimensional scaling (MDS), were employed to analyze keyword frequency, cooccurrence networks, and thematic clusters. Results: The time-series analysis showed a shift from artistic techniques to safety, toxicity, and digital applications. The cooccurrence network analysis revealed strong associations between beauty-related terms in domestic research, whereas the international studies emphasized education and material sciences. U-Matrix clustering demonstrated a dense beauty-focused cluster in domestic studies and more dispersed cluster in international research. MDS confirmed the commercial focus of domestic research and the interdisciplinary nature of international studies. Conclusions: The present study highlights the divergence in body-painting research, with domestic and international studies prioritizing beauty applications and interdisciplinary integrations, respectively. The study findings suggest a growing need to explore the potential of body painting beyond esthetics, incorporating scientific and technological advancements.