Mapping Research on Physical Education Teachers in China: A Bibliometric Analysis using Citespace

This study aims to systematically map and analyse research trends on physical education (PE) teachers in China using bibliometric methods. Literature data were retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database, covering publications from 2014 to 2024, and analysed using CiteSpace V. A total of 1,660 journal articles were examined to identify publication trends, core journals, influential authors, key research institutions, funding characteristics, and research hotspots based on keyword co-occurrence analysis. The results show that the overall number of publications on PE teacher research in China has exhibited a declining trend over the past decade, with studies mainly concentrated in sports-related journals. Author analysis indicates a broad distribution of researchers but a relatively small group of core authors, including Zhao Fuxue, Yin Zhihua, Wang Jian, and Dong Guoyong. East China Normal University, Central China Normal University, and Beijing Sport University emerged as the most influential research institutions. In addition, the proportion of funded studies remains relatively low and is dominated by national-level projects. Keyword analysis reveals that research has primarily focused on college and primary and secondary school PE teachers, professional development, physical education teaching, and job burnout, reflecting sustained academic attention to teacher professionalisation within the context of educational reform. This bibliometric analysis provides an overview of the knowledge structure and evolution of PE teacher research in China and offers a reference for future studies seeking to expand research perspectives and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration.