Open Access

ARTICLE

Protecting the Mental Health of Esports Players: A Qualitative Case Study on Their Stress, Coping Strategies, and Social Support Systems

Young-Vin Kim¹, Hyunkyun Ahn^2,*

1 Department of eSports, Division of Culture & Arts, Osan University, Gyeonggi-do, 18119, Republic of Korea
2 Department of Sport & Leisure Studies, Division of Arts & Health Care, Myongji College, Seoul, 03656, Republic of Korea

* Corresponding Author: Hyunkyun Ahn. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Enhancing Mental Health through Physical Activity: Exploring Resilience Across Populations and Life Stages)

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion 2025, 27(9), 1301-1334. https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2025.068251

Received 23 May 2025; Accepted 29 August 2025; Issue published 30 September 2025

Abstract

Objectives: Recently, the global esports industry has experienced remarkable growth, leading to an expansion in the scale and influence of professional player communities. However, despite this outward growth, systems to protect players’ mental health remain inadequate. Comprehensive analysis of structural risk factors, including performance pressure, public evaluation, and career instability, remains insufficient. This study, aimed to explore stressors encountered by esports athletes, coping strategies, and the role of social support systems in safeguarding mental health. Using the transactional model of stress and coping, the job demands–resources model, and social support theory, the study adopts an integrated perspective to examine challenges faced by athletes in the competitive esports environment. Methods: A qualitative case study was conducted involving in-depth interviews and non-participant observations with 11 esports athletes who competed at national or international levels, as well as two team managers. Thematic analysis identified recurring patterns in the data, and credibility was ensured through triangulation and cross-review among researchers. Results: Esports athletes experience multiple interacting stressors, including performance demands, emotional strain during matches, and continuous evaluation on social media. In response, they employed coping strategies—problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidance-based, which provided temporary relief but often led to burnout and self-regulation failure owing to absence of support systems. Social support networks had ambivalent effects: while offering comfort, they also intensified pressure through negative feedback and high expectations from fans and online communities. Conclusion: The findings show that mental health issues among esports athletes are not only related to individual factors but are closely linked to performance-driven structures, competitive environments, and social relationships. This study integrates the transactional model of stress and coping, the Job Demands–Resources model, and social support theoryto provide comprehensive analysis. It also offers practical recommendations, including psychological counseling, emotional labor programs, and improved communication with families and fan communities.

---

Keywords

---