A Scientometric Analysis of Spiritual Well-being in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

As AI increasingly becomes an intermediary in human life, its relationship to spiritual well-being needs to be understood more deeply, as it affects not only technical aspects but also ways of thinking, the formation of meaning in life, and the balance of the soul. Reliance on AI has the potential to impair the ability to reflect and spiritual awareness if not properly controlled. Therefore, a balanced approach is needed to ensure that AI functions as a tool that supports spiritual development, rather than replacing humans in the pursuit of peace and meaning in life. To address this concern, this bibliometric review maps global studies of how artificial intelligence impacts spiritual well-being. The scientometric analysis of 182 peer-reviewed articles published between 2016 and 2025 revealed a steady annual increase in the number of articles addressing the impact of AI on spiritual well-being. In terms of countries with the most publications, the United States ranked first. Bibliometric analysis reveals that spirituality, artificial intelligence (AI), and health are key pillars of current discussions, alongside the topics of indigenous well-being, youth, cancer treatment, as well as culturally responsive intervention strategies. Observations of citation patterns prove that the majority of research is now centred on holistic and community health models, despite the increasing interest in AI-based methodologies and digital platforms. However, there is a significant imbalance as existing studies focus more on the clinical and psychosocial dimensions, thus ignoring the deep integration between spirituality and technological theory. This situation reveals critical academic gaps in cross-cultural perspectives as well as empirical studies of spiritual experiences facilitated by artificial intelligence. Overall, this review maps the intellectual landscape of this field and proposes an interdisciplinary research agenda to strengthen spiritual resilience in the modern technological age. The implications of this study are significant as they provide a comprehensive theoretical framework for policymakers and researchers to systematically incorporate spiritual values into technological design, thus ensuring that human well-being continues to be preserved amidst the rapid wave of digitalization.