Top 20 Psychology Journals of 2022

Whether you are trying to decide where to publish your research findings, searching for a thought-provoking publication to share at journal club, or simply interested in exploring the latest literature, this article is likely to help you to achieve your aims. We have outlined the rankings of the best journals from the field of Psychology according to impact factor, Google’s h5-index, and the scoring system of the research group SCImago.

Note that this article focuses on the “general” rankings of scientific journals related to Psychology. If you would prefer to consider the rankings of journals dedicated to particular sub-topics within the field, such as social psychology, then this article may not satisfy your needs.

If the accessibility of a journal is of importance to you, keep in mind that the journals we have listed may not have open access status.

Historically, quantitative metrics such as impact factor have provided an objective method for comparing the relative influence and prestige of competing journals. However, the quality of a journal should be assessed holistically and not be based on metrics alone.

In addition to considering the data in this article, we encourage you to visit the website of each journal where you can learn about its purpose and scope, editorial board and practices, and detailed metrics beyond impact factor, which will better inform your search.

Google ranks scientific journals using the h5-index, an index that considers publications in the journal over the past 5 years and that is intended to take into account both the number and quality of publications.

Google’s h5-index value is calculated to maximize both the number of published papers and the number of citations. According to wikipedia, the “h-index is defined as the maximum value of h such that the given author/journal has published h papers that have each been cited at least h times.”

SCImago, a data science and visualization research group from Spain, has also ranked the top journals in Psychology. Their most recent release is for the year 2021.

The SCImago Journal Ranking (SJR) considers not only the number of citations but also the relative prestige of the citation sources, with greater rank enhancement provided by citations from high prestige journals. The SJR is normalized to 1 with an SJR greater than 1 indicating “above average” citation potential.

Data regarding the impact factor of each journal represents the current two-year impact factor as identified by the Journal Citation Reports. Check out our article on the history, definition, and implications of impact factor for more information on the metric.

Interested in learning how to improve the quality of your manuscript? Consider reading “How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper” (affiliate link) by Robert Day and Barbara Gastel. This engaging text has been described as “[required reading] for anybody embarking on a career in science” and “important guidance” even for accomplished scientists.

Top 20 Psychology Journals Ranked by Google (2022)

1. Frontiers in Psychology – h5-index: 108
2. Trends in Cognitive Sciences – h5-index: 107
3. Clinical Psychology Review – h5-index: 91
4. Psychological Bulletin – h5-index: 83
5. Personality and Individual Differences – h5-index: 82
6. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology – h5-index: 81
7. Psychological Science – h5-index: 80
8. Perspectives on Psychological Science – h5-index: 79
9. Journal of Applied Psychology – h5-index: 77
10. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – h5-index: 76
11. Annual Review of Psychology – h5-index: 75
12. Child Development – h5-index: 74
13. American Psychologist – h5-index: 73
14. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry – h5-index: 73
15. Current Opinions in Psychology – h5-index: 73
16. Journal of Organizational Behavior – h5-index: 67
17. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review – h5-index: 66
18. Journal of Vocational Behavior – h5-index: 66
19. Addictive Behaviors – h5-index: 64
20. Journal of Educational Psychology – h5-index: 63

Top 20 Psychology Journals Ranked by SCImago (2021)

1. Annual Review of Psychology – Journal Ranking: 8.804
2. Psychological Bulletin – Journal Ranking: 7.504
3. Psychological Methods – Journal Ranking: 5.295
4. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science – Journal Ranking: 4.950
5. Psychological Science in the Public Interest – Journal Ranking: 4.612
6. Perspectives on Psychological Science – Journal Ranking: 4.563
7. Psychological Review – Journal Ranking: 4.355
8. Journal of Organizational Behavior – Journal Ranking: 3.880
9. Current Directions in Psychological Science – Journal Ranking: 3.098
10. Journal of Business and Psychology – Journal Ranking: 3.093
11. Psychological Science – Journal Ranking: 3.020
12. Behavior Research Methods – Journal Ranking: 2.874
13. American Psychologist – Journal Ranking: 2.503
14. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General – Journal Ranking: 2.316
15. Computers in Human Behavior – Journal Ranking: 2.174
16. Current Opinion in Psychology – Journal Ranking: 2.085
17. British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology – Journal Ranking: 1.991
18. Scientific Studies of Reading – Journal Ranking: 1.923
19. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics – Journal Ranking: 1.921
20. Psychometrika – Journal Ranking: 1.867

Top 50 Psychology Journals Ranked by Impact Factor (2022)

1. Psychological Science in the Public Interest – Impact Factor: 37.857
2. Annual Review of Psychology – Impact Factor: 24.137
3. Psychological Bulletin – Impact Factor: 17.737
4. Psychological Methods – Impact Factor: 11.302
5. American Psychologist – Impact Factor: 10.885
6. Perspectives on Psychological Science – Impact Factor: 9.837
7. European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context – Impact Factor: 9.300
8. Psychological Review – Impact Factor: 8.934
9. Psychological Science – Impact Factor: 7.029
10. Computers in Human Behavior – Impact Factor: 6.829
11. Current Directions in Psychological Science – Impact Factor: 6.811
12. Emotion Review – Impact Factor: 6.469
13. Body Image – Impact Factor: 6.406
14. Environment and Behavior – Impact Factor: 6.222
15. Current Opinion in Psychology – Impact Factor: 5.717
16. European Psychologist – Impact Factor: 5.569
17. Journal of Environmental Psychology – Impact Factor: 5.192
18. Psychosocial Intervention – Impact Factor: 5.083
19. Annals of Behavioral Medicine – Impact Factor: 4.908
20. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior – Impact Factor: 4.450
21. Aggression and Violent Behavior – Impact Factor: 4.382
22. Psychosomatic Medicine – Impact Factor: 4.312
23. Current Psychology – Impact Factor: 4.297
24. Psychological Inquiry – Impact Factor: 4.278
25. British Journal of Psychology – Impact Factor: 4.267
26. Journal of Positive Psychology – Impact Factor: 4.197
27. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences – Impact Factor: 4.077
28. Psychology of Women Quarterly – Impact Factor: 4.062
29. Psycho-Oncology – Impact Factor: 3.894
30. Psicothema – Impact Factor: 3.890
31. Journal of Happiness Studies – Impact Factor: 3.852
32. Journal of Gambling Studies – Impact Factor: 3.655
33. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies – Impact Factor: 3.632
34. American Journal of Community Psychology – Impact Factor: 3.554
35. Review of General Psychology – Impact Factor: 3.443
36. Feminism & Psychology – Impact Factor: 3.377
37. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors – Impact Factor: 3.288
38. Crisis: the Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention – Impact Factor: 3.287
39. Psychology Public Policy and Law – Impact Factor: 3.078
40. Psychology & Health – Impact Factor: 3.073
41. Archives of Suicide Research – Impact Factor: 3.033
42. Collabra: Psychology – Impact Factor: 3.020
43. Frontiers in Psychology – Impact Factor: 2.988
44. Journal of Homosexuality – Impact Factor: 2.952
45. Psychology Research and Behavior Management – Impact Factor: 2.945
46. Journal of Psychology – Impact Factor: 2.920
47. Aggressive Behavior – Impact Factor: 2.917
48. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace – Impact Factor: 2.905
49. Anxiety Stress and Coping – Impact Factor: 2.887
50. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory – Impact Factor: 2.877

Top 50 Clinical Psychology Journals Ranked by Impact Factor (2022)

1. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology – Impact Factor: 18.561
2. Clinical Psychology Review – Impact Factor: 12.792
3. Psychological Medicine – Impact Factor: 7.723
4. Neuropsychology Review – Impact Factor: 7.444
5. Health Psychology Review – Impact Factor: 7.182
6. Clinical Psychological Science – Impact Factor: 7.169
7. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice – Impact Factor: 6.724
8. Journal of Abnormal Psychology – Impact Factor: 6.673
9. Psychotherapy – Impact Factor: 6.596
10. Depression and Anxiety – Impact Factor: 6.505
11. Body Image – Impact Factor: 6.406
12. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy – Impact Factor: 5.761
13. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review – Impact Factor: 5.574
14. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology – Impact Factor: 5.350
15. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology – Impact Factor: 5.348
16. International Journal of Transgenderism – Impact Factor: 5.333
17. Journal of Anxiety Disorders – Impact Factor: 5.264
18. Journal of Sex Research – Impact Factor: 5.141
19. Psychological Assessment – Impact Factor: 5.123
20. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology – Impact Factor: 4.964
21. International Journal of Eating Disorders – Impact Factor: 4.861
22. Mindfulness – Impact Factor: 4.684
23. Assessment – Impact Factor: 4.667
24. European Eating Disorders Review – Impact Factor: 4.520
25. Archives of Sexual Behavior – Impact Factor: 4.507
26. Behaviour Research and Therapy – Impact Factor: 4.473
27. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry – Impact Factor: 4.384
28. Internet Interventions: The Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health – Impact Factor: 4.333
29. Journal of Mental Health – Impact Factor: 4.299
30. Health Psychology – Impact Factor: 4.267
31. Behavior Therapy – Impact Factor: 4.183
32. Psychology of Violence – Impact Factor: 4.147
33. British Journal of Clinical Psychology – Impact Factor: 4.125
34. European Journal of Psychotraumatology – Impact Factor: 4.071
35. Journal of Eating Disorders – Impact Factor: 4.049
36. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory Research and Practice – Impact Factor: 3.915
37. Addictive Behaviors – Impact Factor: 3.913
38. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions – Impact Factor: 3.878
39. International Psychogeriatrics – Impact Factor: 3.878
40. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology – Impact Factor: 3.837
41. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction – Impact Factor: 3.836
42. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse – Impact Factor: 3.829
43. Journal of Personality Assessment – Impact Factor: 3.777
44. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment – Impact Factor: 3.770
45. Psychotherapy Research – Impact Factor: 3.768
46. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis – Impact Factor: 3.695
47. Personality Disorders: Theory Research and Treatment – Impact Factor: 3.623
48. Clinical Neuropsychologist – Impact Factor: 3.535
49. Family Process – Impact Factor: 3.532
50. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment – Impact Factor: 3.489

Interested in learning about the rankings of journals from other fields? Consider checking out our other journal rankings.

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