Mapping of scientific production and conceptual structure among adolescents in digital resilience and cybersecurity

Abstract

Background: Research on digital resilience and cybersecurity among adolescents has grown significantly. Yet adolescents remain underexplored, and studies focus narrowly on coping rather than broader resilience factors. This study addresses these gaps by examining the evolution and scope of digital resilience research.
Objectives: The study aimed to examine the development of digital resilience research over time. It sought to identify emerging themes and explore opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, with particular attention to gaps concerning adolescents.
Method: A bibliometric approach was employed to analyse 474 documents retrieved from the Scopus database.
Results: The findings revealed a clear growth trajectory in digital resilience research, with thematic concerns including privacy, social media, cyberbullying, cybersecurity, machine learning, fake news, digital competence, digital resilience and awareness. Importantly, a lack of focused research on adolescence was highlighted as a significant gap.
Conclusion: The study underscores the need for an interdisciplinary approach including recovery capability, knowledge acquisition, adaptation and autonomy-based strategies, to ensure the safety of children and adolescents amid increasing online risks.
Contribution: This study broadens the conceptualisation of digital resilience beyond coping strategies and clarifies its definition. By mapping the field’s intellectual structure, the study fills a theoretical and scientific gap and aligns with the journal’s focus on cybersecurity and digital safety.