Tracing research trends and conceptual structures in interoceptive awareness and mindfulness (2008–2025): a quantitative science mapping approachr

Abstract

Interoceptive awareness and mindfulness have gained increasing scholarly attention across psychology, neuroscience, and health sciences. This study aims to trace the developmental trajectory, conceptual structure, and emerging trends in this interdisciplinary field from 2008 to 2025. Using a quantitative science mapping approach based on the Bibliometric–Systematic Literature Review (B-SLR) framework, 278 peer-reviewed journal articles were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection. Analytical techniques included performance metrics, co-citation and bibliographic coupling, keyword co-occurrence, and collaboration network analysis, executed via VOSviewer and CiteSpace. The volume of publications grew over tenfold during the study period, with notable acceleration after 2016. Research was dominated by the U.S. and Europe, while contributions from Asia and Latin America have increased since 2020. Six thematic clusters were identified: stress-reduction interventions, measurement of interoceptive awareness, pain management, addiction treatment, sensory reactivity, and trauma-related clinical applications. Keyword bursts revealed a shift from emotion-related concepts to psychometric development, followed by recent growth in disorder-specific interventions supported by physiological measures. The field has advanced from theoretical exploration to applied, clinically oriented research. However, limitations remain in longitudinal design, cultural representation, and integration of objective physiological indicators. Future research should address these gaps to enhance the precision and impact of mindfulness-based and interoceptive interventions.