Bibliometric Differences Between WEIRD and Non-WEIRD Countries in the Outcome Research on Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Open accessAbstract
Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) developed in parallel to Positive Psychology, as a type of intervention that also emphasizes the strengths and resources of clients. The aim of this study was to examine the development of outcome research on SFBT and to determine whether it is predominantly carried out in Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich and Democratic (WEIRD) countries. A literature review was conducted using a bibliometric methodology, identifying: (a) authors and countries, (b) time trends, (c) language of publications; (d) and journals; (e) samples on which they were tested; (f) characteristics of interventions; and (g) main study designs. A total of 365 original outcome research articles published in scientific journals on solution-focused interventions were extracted. The results show that outcome research on SFBT has grown steadily over the last three decades. Although it started in WEIRD countries, the number of outcome research publications generated in non-WEIRD countries is now higher. There is little international collaboration and, although English is the main language of publication in WEIRD countries, English, Chinese and Parsi predominate in non-WEIRD countries. Productivity is low and most authors have only published one paper. The journals that have published the most papers have a very diverse visibility. The tested interventions are conducted both in clinical and non-clinical samples; mostly in individual and group format; face-to-face; and not only in the form of psychotherapy, but also as coaching and school interventions. Almost half of the publications are randomized controlled trials. The results confirm the wide applicability of SFBT as a single or main component of psychosocial interventions. They support the claim that solution-focused interventions are not a WEIRD practice, but a global practice.
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Based on Beyebach et al's WEIRD versus non-WEIRD framework, 15 out of 26 studies (58%) were conducted in non-WEIRD countries.
“Based on Beyebach et al’s [33] WEIRD versus non-WEIRD framework, 15 out of 26 studies (58%) were conducted in non-WEIRD countries.”
From Generative AI Mental Health Chatbots as Therapeutic Tools: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Their Role in Reducing Mental Health Issues (2025) · cites this paper as [33]
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- Authors
- Beyebach, M., Neipp, M.-C., Solanes-Puchol, Á., & Martín-del-Río, B.
- Affiliations
- Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA) (ES)
- ORCID
- Beyebach, Mark
- Venue
- Frontiers in Psychology
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Published
- 2021-11-17
- Volume
- 12
- Pages
- 754885-754885
- ISSN
- 1664-1078 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC8635914
- OpenAlex
- W3212402973
- Cited by
- 35
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 2.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Frontiers in Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Academica-e (Universidad Pública de Navarra) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- United Nations Development Programme
- University of Toronto
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Psychology Research and Bibliometrics
- Keywords
- solution-focused therapy, publication trends, international research collaboration, language of publication, research productivity, solution-focused intervention, positive psychology, psychosocial interventions, coaching, school-based intervention, randomized controlled trials
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