The University of Chichester has assembled a research team in England to compile studies on the stress levels of top esports players.
The research, spearheaded by Dr Benjamin T Sharpe, will closely examine the encounters of professional players, putting emphasis on how stress can potentially lead to mental and physical health disorders.
The university’s study brief mentions that the esports industry has recently burgeoned, with top-of-the-line players earning anywhere from $5 to $7 million throughout their career spans. Last month, Readwrite reported the staggering $4 billion in 2023 revenues from China’s esports industry.
While the financial gains are incredibly rewarding, the impact on player’s overall physical and mental wellness can be severe.
Playing computer games can be highly addictive, with competitive esports adding an additional layer of extreme pressure, as players compete intensely against others, abide by the expectations of their teams, and deal with the influence and scrutiny of massive audience spectacles and leaderboards.
This area has recently drawn considerable attention in empirical research.
Expert Commentary
Dr. Sharpe, who is leading the research for the Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports, expressed:
“Persistent research efforts are being made to investigate this matter, using various methodologies and foregrounding its crucial function in securing the sustained feasibility of esports and gaming, the players involved, and the sustainability of their professional careers.”
Dr. Phil Birch, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, is contributing additional insights on esports psychology, providing editorial support for this edition of the journal.
He added,“We definitely need more research on pressure in esports, from additional perspectives such as performance, behavioral, cognitive psychology, clinical psychology, organizational psychology, educational psychology, and neuroscience.”
“We hope this special edition will attract diverse research in the area to advance understanding.”
The study is open for submissions, and authors are required to submit their works by May 13, 2024, via ScholarOne.
