E-sports playing and its relation to lifestyle behaviors and psychological well-being: A large-scale study of collegiate e-sports players in China

Miaoting Cheng; Lu Chen; Qianqian Pan; Yaying Gao; Jinming Li

doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101731

E-sports playing and its relation to lifestyle behaviors and psychological well-being: A large-scale study of collegiate e-sports players in China

Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2023 May:51:101731. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101731. Epub 2023 Jan 25.

Authors

Miaoting Cheng¹, Lu Chen², Qianqian Pan³, Yaying Gao⁴, Jinming Li⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Educational Technology, Faculty of Education, Shenzhen University, 3688 Nanhai Avenue, Shenzhen, China. Electronic address: chengmt1@szu.edu.cn.
² School of Journalism and Communication, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: sjccl@gzhu.edu.cn.
³ Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice, Office of Education Research, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, NIE5-B3-57, 1 Nanyang Walk, 639798, Singapore. Electronic address: qianqian.pan@nie.edu.sg.
⁴ Department of Educational Technology, Faculty of Education, Shenzhen University, 3688 Nanhai Avenue, Shenzhen, China. Electronic address: yaying_gao.sz@foxmail.com.
⁵ Department of Educational Technology, Faculty of Education & Body-Brain-Mind Laboratory, Shenzhen University, No. 3688 Nanhai Avenue, Shenzhen, China. Electronic address: jinmingli1999@gmail.com.

PMID: 36716672
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101731

Abstract

Background: The research on e-sports mainly concerns the relationship between game playing behavior and Internet addiction, especially among college students. It remained a question of how college students' e-sports playing was associated with their lifestyle behaviors and psychological well-being in China.

Objectives: Our study aimed to explore whether collegiate e-sports players' e-sports participation behaviors differ across demographic backgrounds and how their e-sports playing relates to their lifestyle behaviors and psychological well-being.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1441 collegiate e-sports players in China. The demographic characteristics of collegiate e-sports players were explored. The Bivariate Person correlation, linear and Tobit regression analyses were used to examine how students' e-sports playing was related to their lifestyle behaviors (i.e., sleep quality and physical activity) and psychological well-being (mobile phone addiction, online game addiction, satisfaction with life, and perceived stress).

Results: The results of independent t-test and ANOVA analyses revealed that students from different grades, majors, family residences, and family structures differed in their e-sports participation behaviors. The results of linear regression and Tobit regression analyses also revealed that students' e-sports participation behaviors were related to their lifestyle behaviors and psychological well-being, except for sleep quality and mobile phone addiction. It is noteworthy that the length of time in playing e-sports and e-sports consumption was related to different lifestyle behaviors and psychological well-being.

Conclusion: The findings demonstrated that e-sports playing had penetrated college students' daily life. Appropriate time arrangement and rational e-sports consumption are crucial in promoting a healthy lifestyle and psychological well-being among college students.

Keywords: Addicted behaviors; Demographic characteristics; E-sports; Lifestyle behaviors; Psychological well-being.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

China
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Life Style*
Psychological Well-Being*
Surveys and Questionnaires