Global research trends on sleep quality among workers: A 20-year bibliometric analysis (2005–2024)

Problem considered This bibliometric analysis aimed to identify publication trends, international collaboration, influential articles, keyword bursts, and thematic structures of research on sleep quality among workers. Methods Articles published from 2005 to 2024 were retrieved from Scopus and the Web of Science. Analyses included descriptive statistics, international network analysis, keyword burst detection, and thematic mapping. Results A total of 1428 articles were analyzed. Publications increased steadily, peaking at 233 in 2022, then declined slightly to 218 in 2024. China (16.3%) and the United States (12.7%) were the most productive countries, while European countries showed higher proportions of internationally coauthored papers. Single-country publications accounted for 78.4% and multicountry publications for 21.6%. Keyword bursts indicated an increased focus on mental health, stress, and occupational issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic mapping identified two clusters: (1) basic themes comprising COVID-19, mental health, stress, and anxiety; and (2) niche themes covering sleep, shift work, and occupational health. Conclusions Research on workers' sleep quality has increased significantly, reflecting its growing recognition as an essential component of occupational health. To advance this field, future efforts should integrate fragmented research areas and strengthen international collaboration to build a more comprehensive, globally comparable body of evidence.