Global Research Trends on Positive Emotional Well-Being Among Adults Aged 40-60 Through Dance: A Bibliometric Analysis

Emotional well being during midlife represents a critical public health concern, with dance based interventions emerging as effective mind body approaches. This study systematically mapped global research trends on dance-based interventions for positive emotional well being among adults aged 40-60 during 2020-2025 through bibliometric analysis. Data were retrieved from Scopus (742 articles, 3,847 authors, 87 countries) and analyzed using performance analysis and science mapping techniques via VOSviewer and Biblioshiny. Results revealed sustained publication growth peaking in 2023, with pronounced geographic concentration in China, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Co-authorship network analysis identified interconnected research clusters centered on therapeutic efficacy, psychological outcomes, and emerging neurobiological mechanisms. Keyword co occurrence mapping revealed established themes (Dance Therapy, Emotional Well-being, Mental Health) and emerging frontiers (Digital Interventions, Embodied Cognition, Cultural Practices). This bibliometric synthesis clarifies the intellectual structure and thematic evolution of dance based emotional well-being research, identifies disciplinary gaps and collaborative opportunities, and highlights geographic inequities in knowledge production. Findings inform evidence-informed decision-making for mental health promotion and therapeutic innovation in midlife populations.