Research Trends in Amish Population Health, a Growing Literature about a Growing Rural Population.

Journal of Rural Social Science

Anderson, Cory, and Lindsey Potts. 2021.

36(1):Article 6.

The first bibliometric mapping of Amish health research literature (246 publications 1958-2020), analyzing publication trends, influential works, and knowledge clusters.
Network/clustering algorithms reveal 13 topical clusters, a central focus on Amish health culture, and peripheral focuses on health conditions including safety, physical health, demography, and mental health.
Main path analysis revealed 1986-90 shift in central literature from demography/genetics to cultural competency, which, though initially multiplying Amish health publications, has recently stagnated as a focus
Research collaborations bridging cultural studies and health conditions are lacking but could strengthen Amish health scholarship; cultural studies would also benefit from stronger theory grounding
Methodology models the process of organizing and assessing literature using quantitative bibliometric analyses that, in turn, enables up-close narrative literature reviews