Introduction: Friendship positively influences human development. However, people with disabilities face difficulties in building and maintaining this bond. This study aims to explore and analyze the knowledge networks in the literature on friendship and disabilities from 2017 to 2022. Method: Using PRISMA criteria, the search was conducted in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. VOSviewer and Pajek software were used to construct and analyze the networks. Results: Sixty-eight articles were analyzed. The United States leads in publications, but the United Kingdom is more influential in the network. The main research areas are autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, social inclusion, social skills, and violence against people with disabilities. Influential documents address thematic analysis in psychology, and friendship among individuals with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. Conclusions: Knowledge maps and network analysis help explore the literature, allowing an understanding of trends, the foundational intellectual structure, and scientific correlations.

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Keywords:
Friendship, disability, scientometrics, knowledge network, network analysis.

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