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Lookup NU author(s): Cyril Onwuelazu UtehORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Introduction: Aquatic biodiversity plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance, supporting ecosystem services, and enhancing human well-being. This study aimed to assess global research trends and empirical evidence on the relationship between aquatic biodiversity and mental health outcomes, while identifying thematic gaps and emerging areas of inquiry. Materials and methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection (2014–2025) and analysed in R with Bibliometrix (Biblioshiny). From an initial 19,320 records, 159 highly cited original research articles were screened using the Rayyan systematic review platform, resulting in 10 eligible studies that directly examined human mental health in relation to aquatic biodiversity or blue space quality. Results: The study results show that research at this intersection remains limited, with mental health often treated as a secondary or indirect aspect within broader ecological or sustainability frameworks. Emerging but underexplored topics include emotional exhaustion, depression, and stress linked to the degradation of aquatic ecosystem and water insecurity. Content analysis of the 10 studies revealed no direct quantitative evidence linking measured aquatic biodiversity to mental health outcomes. Instead, perceived environmental quality and visible wildlife presence consistently predicted higher well-being and more frequent engagement with aquatic environments, suggesting that perceived biodiversity may serve as a key intermediary for psychological benefits. Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for longitudinal, interdisciplinary research that integrates ecological metrics with psychological assessments. Strengthening collaboration among environmental scientists, psychologists, and public health experts will be essential to establishing an evidence-based frameworks linking aquatic biodiversity with mental health.
Author(s): Ejiohuo O, Akuffo-Addo W, Edi P, Uteh CO, Onyeaka H
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Current Problems of Psychiatry
Year: 2025
Volume: 26
Pages: 156-174
Online publication date: 16/01/2026
Acceptance date: 15/01/2026
Date deposited: 18/03/2026
ISSN (electronic): 2081-3910
Publisher: Medical University of Lublin
URL: https://doi.org/10.12923/2353-8627/2025-0015
DOI: 10.12923/2353-8627/2025-0015
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