IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jhappi/v26y2025i3d10.1007_s10902-025-00869-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

20 Years of Character Strengths: A Bibliometric Review

Author

Listed:
  • Tommaso Feraco

    (University of Padova)

  • Nicole Casali

    (Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime Secutirt and Law)

Abstract

Character strengths were introduced into the positive psychology literature twenty years ago. The present bibliometric analysis quantitatively summarizes the research conducted in the field so far in terms of impact and themes analyzed. We conduct performance analysis to examine the total number of publications on character strengths, their bibliometric indices, the main journals contributing to the field, and the countries involved in such knowledge accumulation and how this has changed over time. We furthermore conduct science mapping analysis using the keywords of the papers. Specifically, we describe the time-varying occurrence of specific keywords and use network and thematic mapping analyses to determine the dynamic intercorrelations among the emerging research topics. Our results show the significant and growing contribution of character strengths to the positive psychology literature and beyond, but also the need for cross-fertilization with neighboring fields. We also highlight an increasing contribution from non-WEIRD countries in recent years, which calls for in-depth cross-cultural research. Topics such as measurement and well-being appear to be well-established and integrated, while there’s an emerging interest in mental health research. Overall, the present analysis illuminates on the past, present, and upcoming trends in the field.

Suggested Citation

  • Tommaso Feraco & Nicole Casali, 2025. "20 Years of Character Strengths: A Bibliometric Review," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:26:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s10902-025-00869-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-025-00869-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10902-025-00869-5
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10902-025-00869-5?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Donthu, Naveen & Kumar, Satish & Mukherjee, Debmalya & Pandey, Nitesh & Lim, Weng Marc, 2021. "How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 285-296.
    2. Aria, Massimo & Cuccurullo, Corrado, 2017. "bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 959-975.
    3. Fabian Gander & Jennifer Hofmann & René T. Proyer & Willibald Ruch, 2020. "Character Strengths – Stability, Change, and Relationships with Well-Being Changes," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(2), pages 349-367, April.
    4. Cobo, M.J. & López-Herrera, A.G. & Herrera-Viedma, E. & Herrera, F., 2011. "An approach for detecting, quantifying, and visualizing the evolution of a research field: A practical application to the Fuzzy Sets Theory field," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 146-166.
    5. Nees Jan Eck & Ludo Waltman, 2010. "Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 84(2), pages 523-538, August.
    6. Nicole Casali & Silvia Filippi & Tommaso Feraco, 2024. "Does Inequality Shape Human Character? Cross-Cultural Associations between Character Strengths and the Gini Index in 68 Countries," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(4), pages 1-17, April.
    7. Juan Zhang & Qi Yu & Fashan Zheng & Chao Long & Zuxun Lu & Zhiguang Duan, 2016. "Comparing keywords plus of WOS and author keywords: A case study of patient adherence research," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 67(4), pages 967-972, April.
    8. Martina K Linnenluecke & Mauricio Marrone & Abhay K Singh, 2020. "Conducting systematic literature reviews and bibliometric analyses," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 45(2), pages 175-194, May.
    9. Fabian Gander & René Proyer & Willibald Ruch & Tobias Wyss, 2013. "Strength-Based Positive Interventions: Further Evidence for Their Potential in Enhancing Well-Being and Alleviating Depression," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 1241-1259, August.
    10. Tommaso Feraco & Nicole Casali & Chiara Meneghetti & Samuel Greiff & Giorgia Cona, 2023. "Is Good Character All that Counts? A Comparison Between the Predictive Role of Specific Strengths and a General Factor of “Good Character” Using a Bifactor Model," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(7), pages 2353-2376, October.
    11. Nicola S. Schutte & John M. Malouff, 2019. "The Impact of Signature Character Strengths Interventions: A Meta-analysis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 1179-1196, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Huichen Gao & Shijuan Wang, 2022. "The Intellectual Structure of Research on Rural-to-Urban Migrants: A Bibliometric Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-19, August.
    2. Khare, Apoorv & Jain, Rajesh, 2022. "Mapping the conceptual and intellectual structure of the consumer vulnerability field: A bibliometric analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 567-584.
    3. Zamani, Mehdi & Yalcin, Haydar & Naeini, Ali Bonyadi & Zeba, Gordana & Daim, Tugrul U, 2022. "Developing metrics for emerging technologies: identification and assessment," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    4. Paul Handro & Bogdan Dima, 2024. "Analyzing Financial Markets Efficiency: Insights from a Bibliometric and Content Review," Journal of Financial Studies, Institute of Financial Studies, vol. 16(9), pages 119-175, May.
    5. Darko B. Vuković & Senanu Dekpo-Adza & Stefana Matović, 2025. "AI integration in financial services: a systematic review of trends and regulatory challenges," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-29, December.
    6. Sandip Solanki & Seema Singh & Meeta Joshi, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis of the International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy: 2013-2022," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(5), pages 260-270, September.
    7. Kaustov Chakraborty & Arindam Ghosh & Saurabh Pratap, 2023. "Adoption of blockchain technology in supply chain operations: a comprehensive literature study analysis," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 1989-2007, December.
    8. Muhammad Khalid Shahid & Aye Aye Khin & Lim Chee Seong & Muhammad Shahbaz & Fiaz Ahmad, 2024. "Mapping the Relationship of Research and Development Expenditures and Economic Growth through Bibliometric Analysis: A Theoretical Perspective," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(4), pages 17529-17555, December.
    9. Karen Castañeda & Omar Sánchez & Rodrigo F. Herrera & Guillermo Mejía, 2022. "Highway Planning Trends: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-33, May.
    10. Błoński Krzysztof, 2023. "Analysis of Citations and Co-Citations of the Term ‘Word of Mouth’ Based on Publications in the Field of Social Sciences," Marketing of Scientific and Research Organizations, Sciendo, vol. 48(2), pages 111-133, June.
    11. Tufan Özsoy & Konuralp Sezgili, 2024. "Exploring the Current Practices and Future Directions in Project Management Education and Training," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(1), pages 21582440241, March.
    12. Goodell, John W. & Kumar, Satish & Lahmar, Oumaima & Pandey, Nitesh, 2023. "A bibliometric analysis of cultural finance," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    13. Luciano Barcellos-Paula & José M. Merigó & Anna M. Gil-Lafuente, 2024. "100 volumes of Mathematical Methods of Operations Research: a bibliometric overview," Mathematical Methods of Operations Research, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research (GOR);Nederlands Genootschap voor Besliskunde (NGB), vol. 100(3), pages 753-796, December.
    14. Boubaker, Sabri & Goodell, John W. & Kumar, Satish & Sureka, Riya, 2023. "COVID-19 and finance scholarship: A systematic and bibliometric analysis," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    15. Carlo Drago & Luisa Errichiello, 2024. "Remote Work admist the Covid-19 outbreak: Insights from an Ensemble Community-Based Keyword Network Analysis," Working Papers 2024.05, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    16. Hua Zheng & Min Guo & Qian Wang & Qinghai Zhang & Noriko Akita, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Current Knowledge Structure and Research Progress Related to Urban Community Garden Systems," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-34, January.
    17. Deepa Sharma & Suman Chakraborty & Ashwath Ananda Rao & Lumen Shawn Lobo, 2023. "The Relationship of Corporate Social Responsibility and Firm Performance: A Bibliometric Overview," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, March.
    18. Yao, Ye & Du, Huibin & Zou, Hongyang & Zhou, Peng & Antunes, Carlos Henggeler & Neumann, Anne & Yeh, Sonia, 2023. "Fifty years of Energy Policy: A bibliometric overview," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    19. Qian Wang & Shixian Luo & Jiao Zhang & Katsunori Furuya, 2022. "Increased Attention to Smart Development in Rural Areas: A Scientometric Analysis of Smart Village Research," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-28, August.
    20. Ahmed, Shamima & Alshater, Muneer M. & Ammari, Anis El & Hammami, Helmi, 2022. "Artificial intelligence and machine learning in finance: A bibliometric review," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:26:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s10902-025-00869-5. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.