Kinesiology, Vol. 58 No. 1, 2026.
Pregledni rad
https://doi.org/10.26582/k.58.1.13
Non-swimmer education and aquatic competence: A systematic review and bibliometric analysis
Dajana Zoretić
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology, Zagreb, Croatia
*
Iva Barković
orcid.org/0000-0001-7254-6596
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivan Čolakovac
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology, Zagreb, Croatia
* Dopisni autor.
Sažetak
Non-swimmer education represents an important public health and pedagogical issue, as the lack of aquatic competence significantly increases the risk of drowning, particularly among children. Despite the growing number of studies on water safety and swimming education, comprehensive analyses of research trends and methodological approaches remain limited. The aim of this study was to analyze scientific trends in non-swimmer education, identify key pedagogical and psychological determinants, and examine research patterns through bibliometric analysis. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, including 36 original studies retrieved from four databases (Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and PubMed). Additionally, a bibliometric analysis was performed on the 36 publications using Excel and VOSviewer. The results indicate that structured swimming programs significantly improve aquatic skills, safety, and motor competence. Psychological factors, particularly fear of water and anxiety, were identified as key determinants of learning success. Play-based and individualized teaching approaches showed higher effectiveness compared to traditional methods. The use of swimming aids demonstrated both facilitating and limiting effects, depending on their application. Bibliometric findings suggest that non -swimmer education and aquatic safety remain prolific research field, characterized by the predominance of English-language publications, geographical concentration of research output, and a relatively small collaboration network. In conclusion, non-swimmer education is a multidimensional process requiring an integrated pedagogical approach. Future research should focus on longitudinal designs, standardized assessment tools, and improved global collaboration to enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of aquatic education programs.
Ključne riječi
non-swimmer education; aquatic competence; water safety; swimming education; bibliometric analysis
Hrčak ID:
348448
URI
Datum izdavanja:
30.6.2026.
Posjeta: 0 *