Visual Analysis of Research Hotspots and Trends in Music Therapy for Older Adults Using CiteSpace and VOSviewer
Journal: Journal of Clinical Medicine Research DOI: 10.32629/jcmr.v7i1.5068
Abstract
Music therapy is increasingly applied as a non-pharmacological intervention to improve the health and well-being of older adults; however, comprehensive bibliometric analyses integrating Chinese- and English-language literature remain limited. This study aimed to map the knowledge structure, research hotspots, and development trends in music therapy for older adults. Publications were retrieved from CNKI and the Web of Science Core Collection (1991–2024). CiteSpace and VOSviewer were used to analyze publication trends, thematic clusters, collaboration networks, and keyword co-occurrence patterns, and Excel was applied for descriptive statistical analysis. A total of 791 publications were included. The United States, China, and the United Kingdom were the leading contributors. High-frequency keywords in English-language literature focused on dementia, depression, anxiety, and quality of life, whereas Chinese-language literature emphasized depression, anxiety, nursing, and sleep disorders. Overall, research output has steadily increased, with international studies concentrating on neurocognitive disorders and domestic studies focusing on symptom management and clinical practice.
Keywords
music therapy; older adults; VOSviewer; CiteSpace; visualization analysis
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[28] Zhang WJ. Effects of music therapy on cognitive function recovery in stroke patients. Chin Gen Pract. 2023;26(32):4105-4106.
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[31] Rodgers-Melnick SN, Bradt J, Jenerette C, et al. Recommendations for patient-reported outcome use in music therapy practice and research within chronic pain and sickle cell disease populations. Nord J Music Ther. 2024;33(4):319-333.
[32] Cho E, Lee JY, Yang M, et al. Symptom-specific non-pharmacological interventions for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: an umbrella review. Int J Nurs Stud. 2024;159.
[33] Ito E, Nouchi R, Dine J, et al. The effect of music-based intervention on general cognitive and executive functions, and episodic memory in people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of recent randomized controlled trials. Healthcare (Basel). 2022;10(8).
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[35] Zheng HL, Cai B, Yue XD, et al. Application and evaluation of Otago exercise intervention combined with music therapy in the clinical nursing of older stroke patients. West J Tradit Chin Med. 2022;35(6):128-131.
[36] Dong XL, Sun WM, Yuan YF, et al. Effects of receptive music therapy on depression in community-dwelling older adults. Chin J Gerontol. 2017;37(7):1752-1753.
[37] Kim SJ, Yeo MS, Kim SY, et al. A scoping review of music-based interventions for swallowing difficulties: implications for treating older adults with presbyphagia. Front Med (Lausanne). 2023;10.
[38] Dhippayom T, Saensook T, Promkhatja N, et al. Comparative effects of music interventions on depression in older adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. eClinicalMedicine. 2022;50.
[39] Milos D, Katusic A. Possible effects of music therapy on depression and anxiety symptoms, perceived stress and subjective well-being in nursing home residents. Ljetopis Socijalnog Rada. 2021;18(3):695-709.
[40] Schneible BK, Beer L, McDermott O, et al. Development of the music therapy in transition to long-term care model. J Music Ther. 2023;60(4):435-462.
[41] Domínguez-Chávez CJ, Murrock CJ, Guerrero PIC, et al. Music therapy intervention in community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a pilot study. Geriatr Nurs. 2019;40(6):614-619.
[42] Moreira SV, Justi FRD, et al. Music therapy enhances episodic memory in Alzheimer's and mixed dementia: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Healthcare (Basel). 2023;11(22).
[43] Jacobs S, Izzetoglu M, Holtzer R. The impact of music making on neural efficiency and dual-task walking performance in healthy older adults. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn. 2024;31(3):438-456. doi:10.1080/13825585.2023.2195615.
[2] Qiao X. The past, present and future of population aging in China. Soc Policy Res. 2024;(1):47-63,133.
[3] Chen G. New characteristics and trends in China's population development [Internet]. National Bureau of Statistics of China; 2021 May 13 [cited 2024 Dec 13]. Available from: https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/sjjd/202302/t20230202_1896485.html
[4] Lou C, Yu H. Active aging strategy in China: cognitive shift, practical challenges and implementation paths. Soc Sci J. 2024;(1):181-190.
[5] Cai FY, Chen F, Jiang PJ, et al. Effects of passive soothing music therapy on sleep in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Int J Psychiatry. 2024;51(1):139-142.
[6] Gold K. But does it do any good? Measuring the impact of music therapy on people with advanced dementia: (Innovative practice). Dementia (London). 2014;13(2):258-264. doi:10.1177/1471301213494512.
[7] Xue B, Meng XM, et al. The effect of receptive music therapy on older adults with mild cognitive impairment and depression: a randomized controlled trial. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1).
[8] Ma MN, Feng XY, Tang W, et al. Meta-analysis of the effects of music therapy on cognitive function in older adults with dementia. J Nurs Sci. 2021;36(10):30-34.
[9] Lorber M, Divjak S. Music therapy as an intervention to reduce blood pressure and anxiety levels in older adults with hypertension: a randomized controlled trial. Res Gerontol Nurs. 2022;15(2):85-92.
[10] Astuti NF, Rekawati E, Wati DNK. Decreased blood pressure among community-dwelling older adults following progressive muscle relaxation and music therapy (RESIK). BMC Nurs. 2019;18.
[11] Jiang LH, Li J, Yang CH, et al. Meta-analysis of the effects of music therapy on hypertension. Mod Prev Med. 2021;48(16).
[12] Ilic MD, Pavlovic R, Kocic G, et al. Effects of music therapy on endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease participating in aerobic exercise therapy. Altern Ther Health Med. 2017;23(3):30-36.
[13] Loewy J. Music therapy as a potential intervention for sleep improvement. Nat Sci Sleep. 2020;12:1-9.
[14] Cai SY, Fan YJ, Tian HF, et al. Randomized controlled trial of music therapy combined with transcranial direct current stimulation for insomnia. Chin J Rehabil Theory Pract. 2024;30(10):1193-1202.
[15] Kavurmaci M, Dayapoglu N, Tan M. Effect of music therapy on sleep quality. Altern Ther Health Med. 2020;26(4):22-26.
[16] Erkkilä J, Brabant O, Hartmann M, et al. Music therapy for depression enhanced with listening homework and slow-paced breathing: a randomised controlled trial. Front Psychol. 2021;12.
[17] Marti P, Fontanals I, Funtané J, et al. Preliminary results of the effect of music therapy treatment on anxiety, sadness, physical discomfort, mood, and quality of life in hospitalized onco-haematological patients. BMC Psychol. 2023;11(1).
[18] Guetin S, Portet F, Picot MC, et al. Impact of music therapy on anxiety and depression for patients with Alzheimer's disease and on the burden felt by the main caregiver (feasibility study). Encephale. 2009;35(1):57-65.
[19] Moreu-Valls A, Puig-Davi A, Martinez-Horta S, et al. A randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation and music therapy in mild cognitive impairment in Huntington's disease. J Neurol. 2025;272(3).
[20] Lin YF, Wei TY, Zhang XY, et al. Effects of music therapy on cognitive impairment after stroke. Chin J Rehabil Theory Pract. 2023;29(6):714-719.
[21] Chen XY, Yu NN, Ding JJ, et al. Effect of music therapy combined with rehabilitation training on reducing fall risk in older adults with multimorbidity. J Rehabil Med. 2024;34(1):8-14.
[22] Bo XP, Chen SH, Wang C, et al. Clinical study of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with music therapy on post-stroke cognitive impairment. Chin J Cerebrovasc Dis. 2025;22(4):217-224.
[23] Kim KM. The impact of music therapists' perspectives on quality of life in building relationships with older adults with chronic illness. Behav Sci (Basel). 2022;12(11).
[24] Magee WL, Clark I, et al. Music interventions for acquired brain injury. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;(1).
[25] Dimitriadis T, Della Porta D, Perschl J, et al. Motivation and music interventions in adults: a systematic review. Neuropsychol Rehabil. 2023;34(5):649-678.
[26] Magee WL, Lipe AW, et al. Exploring the clinical utility of the Music Therapy Assessment Tool for Awareness in Disorders of Consciousness (MATADOC) with people with end-stage dementia. Brain Sci. 2022;12(10).
[27] Feng X, Dang WB, Apuke OD. How does group music therapy help in combating the anxiety and depression of dementia patients? A quasi-experimental investigation. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2024;52:83-88.
[28] Zhang WJ. Effects of music therapy on cognitive function recovery in stroke patients. Chin Gen Pract. 2023;26(32):4105-4106.
[29] Zhou LL, Su H, Zheng ZQ, et al. Effects of group music therapy intervention on physical and mental health of older adults in nursing homes. Chin J Clin Psychol. 2022;30(1):216-219,240.
[30] Waters B, Sousa L, Orrell M, et al. Analysing the use of music to facilitate social interaction in care home residents with dementia: narrative synthesis systematic review. Dementia (Lond). 2022;21(6):2072-2094.
[31] Rodgers-Melnick SN, Bradt J, Jenerette C, et al. Recommendations for patient-reported outcome use in music therapy practice and research within chronic pain and sickle cell disease populations. Nord J Music Ther. 2024;33(4):319-333.
[32] Cho E, Lee JY, Yang M, et al. Symptom-specific non-pharmacological interventions for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: an umbrella review. Int J Nurs Stud. 2024;159.
[33] Ito E, Nouchi R, Dine J, et al. The effect of music-based intervention on general cognitive and executive functions, and episodic memory in people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of recent randomized controlled trials. Healthcare (Basel). 2022;10(8).
[34] Coxey JP, Kameg B, Novosel LM, et al. Music and nursing home residents with dementia: a literature review. J Nurse Pract. 2021;17(7):808-814.
[35] Zheng HL, Cai B, Yue XD, et al. Application and evaluation of Otago exercise intervention combined with music therapy in the clinical nursing of older stroke patients. West J Tradit Chin Med. 2022;35(6):128-131.
[36] Dong XL, Sun WM, Yuan YF, et al. Effects of receptive music therapy on depression in community-dwelling older adults. Chin J Gerontol. 2017;37(7):1752-1753.
[37] Kim SJ, Yeo MS, Kim SY, et al. A scoping review of music-based interventions for swallowing difficulties: implications for treating older adults with presbyphagia. Front Med (Lausanne). 2023;10.
[38] Dhippayom T, Saensook T, Promkhatja N, et al. Comparative effects of music interventions on depression in older adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. eClinicalMedicine. 2022;50.
[39] Milos D, Katusic A. Possible effects of music therapy on depression and anxiety symptoms, perceived stress and subjective well-being in nursing home residents. Ljetopis Socijalnog Rada. 2021;18(3):695-709.
[40] Schneible BK, Beer L, McDermott O, et al. Development of the music therapy in transition to long-term care model. J Music Ther. 2023;60(4):435-462.
[41] Domínguez-Chávez CJ, Murrock CJ, Guerrero PIC, et al. Music therapy intervention in community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a pilot study. Geriatr Nurs. 2019;40(6):614-619.
[42] Moreira SV, Justi FRD, et al. Music therapy enhances episodic memory in Alzheimer's and mixed dementia: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Healthcare (Basel). 2023;11(22).
[43] Jacobs S, Izzetoglu M, Holtzer R. The impact of music making on neural efficiency and dual-task walking performance in healthy older adults. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn. 2024;31(3):438-456. doi:10.1080/13825585.2023.2195615.
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