A Bibliometric Analysis of Dual Career Research in Sport

Spor Alanındaki Çift Kariyer Araştırmalarının Bibliyometrik Analizi

Ferhat Caner AÇIKBAŞ, Mehmet Şükrü AYYILDIZ

*Correspondence:  Ferhat Caner Açıkbaş acikbasferhat@mersin.edu.tr

¹Mersin Üniversitesi, Turizm Fakültesi, Rekreasyon Yönetimi, Mersin, Türkiye

ORCID: 0000-0003-0219-8447, E-mail: acikbasferhat@mersin.edu.tr

²Tekirdağ Namık Kemal Üniversitesi, Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi, Tekirdağ, Türkiye

ORCID: 0000-0002-1567-5890, E-mail: mayyildiz@nku.edu.tr

Doi: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23716446

https://www.ijoss.org/Archive/v3-i3/ijoss-Volume3-issue3-18.pdf

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Received / Gönderim: 27.08.2026 Accepted / Kabul: 24.10.2026 Published / Yayın: 25.10.2026

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the structure, development, and thematic orientation of the academic literature on dual careers in sport through bibliometric analysis. Data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection in the second quarter of 2026 using a topic search combining “dual career” and “sport.” After applying filters for document type (article), citation indexes (SSCI, SCI-Expanded, and A&HCI), and language (English), the initial dataset of 386 records was reduced to 309 articles published between 2012 and 2026. Bibliometrix R and VOSviewer were jointly employed for performance analysis and science mapping. The analyses covered annual scientific production, citation patterns, country productivity, international citation networks, keyword co-occurrence, trend topics, thematic evolution, and word frequencies. The findings revealed an annual publication growth rate of 21.9%, with 1,004 authors contributing to 96 sources. Internationally co-authored publications accounted for 43.69% of the articles, while the average number of citations per document was 16.14. Spain and the United Kingdom were the most productive countries, followed by Finland, Italy, and Germany. Keyword analyses identified “dual career” and “sport” as the field’s core concepts. Over time, the thematic focus shifted from performance- and transition-oriented issues toward mental health, identity, social support, and the holistic ecological approach. Overall, dual-career research in sport represents a growing interdisciplinary field that has evolved from a career-centered perspective toward a more holistic understanding of athletes’ lives. Future progress requires broader samples and stronger international collaboration.

Keywords: sport, career, dual career, bibliometric analysis, student-athlete

Özet

Bu çalışma, spor alanındaki ikili kariyer (dual career) konulu akademik literatürün yapısını, gelişimini ve tematik yönelimini bibliyometrik analiz yoluyla incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Veriler, 2026 yılının ikinci çeyreğinde Web of Science Core Collection veri tabanından “dual career” ve “sport” terimlerinin birlikte kullanıldığı konu taraması aracılığıyla elde edilmiştir. Doküman türü (makale), atıf indeksleri (SSCI, SCI-Expanded ve A&HCI) ve dil (İngilizce) filtrelerinin uygulanmasının ardından, başlangıçta elde edilen 386 kayıt, 2012–2026 yılları arasında yayımlanmış 309 makaleye indirgenmiştir. Performans analizi ve bilim haritalaması için Bibliometrix R ve VOSviewer programları birlikte kullanılmıştır. Analizler kapsamında yıllık bilimsel üretim, atıf örüntüleri, ülkelere göre yayın üretkenliği, uluslararası atıf ağları, anahtar kelime eş oluşumu, trend konular, tematik evrim ve kelime sıklıkları incelenmiştir. Bulgular, yıllık yayın artış oranının %21,9 olduğunu ve 96 farklı kaynakta 1.004 yazarın katkı sunduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Uluslararası ortak yazarlı yayınlar makalelerin %43,69’unu oluştururken, belge başına ortalama atıf sayısı 16,14 olarak belirlenmiştir. İspanya ve Birleşik Krallık en üretken ülkeler olarak öne çıkmış; bu ülkeleri Finlandiya, İtalya ve Almanya izlemiştir. Anahtar kelime analizleri, “dual career” (ikili kariyer) ve “sport” (spor) kavramlarının alanın temel kavramları olduğunu göstermiştir. Zaman içerisinde tematik odak, performans ve geçiş odaklı konulardan ruh sağlığı, kimlik, sosyal destek ve bütüncül ekolojik yaklaşıma doğru kaymıştır. Genel olarak, spor alanındaki ikili kariyer araştırmaları, kariyer merkezli bir bakış açısından sporcuların yaşamlarını daha bütüncül biçimde anlamaya yönelen, gelişmekte olan disiplinler arası bir alanı temsil etmektedir. Gelecekteki gelişmeler için daha geniş örneklemlere ve daha güçlü uluslararası iş birliklerine ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Spor, kariyer, ikili kariyer, bibliyometrik analiz, öğrenci-sporcu

How to Cite This Article

 APA 7

Açıkbaş, F. C., & Ayyıldız, M. Ş. (2026). A bibliometric analysis of dual career research in sport. International Journal of Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences (IJOSS), 3(3), 1229–1246.

Vancouver

Açıkbaş FC, Ayyıldız MŞ. A bibliometric analysis of dual career research in sport. International Journal of Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences (IJOSS). 2026;3(3):1229-1246.

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