Psychological well-being in medical education: an analysis of its evolution and scientific communication

Abstract

Introduction: Psychological well-being in medical education is a growing line of research, essential for mitigating stress, anxiety, and burnout among medical students. Objective: To map the intellectual structure and evolution of this area of study through a bibliometric analysis. Methodology: A bibliometric analysis of 3,127 documents indexed in Scopus (2018-2024) was conducted, processed with VOSviewer to examine production metrics, collaboration, and keyword co-occurrence. Results: Scientific production experienced exponential growth, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A marked concentration of scientific leadership was identified in English-speaking countries (United States and United Kingdom), while the Hispanic American contribution was peripheral. Conceptually, the field evolved from a predominant focus on psychopathologies (anxiety, burnout) towards emerging clusters on curricular interventions and protective educational environments. Artificial intelligence is emerging as a topic with controversial impact. Conclusions: The field is consolidated but asymmetrical. Strategic investment in Hispanic America is required to strengthen research capacities, improve visibility, and ethically integrate emerging technologies, shifting from description to prediction and prevention of psychological distress in medical training.