Stressors and coping strategies in amateur esports players: An Interview Study
Download this article Oliver Leis *, Michael G. Trotter **/***, Phil Dj Birch ****, Kabir Bubna ***** and Dylan R. Poulus ******
(*) Sport Psychology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
(**) Institution for Psychology Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
(***) School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
(****) Institute of Applied Sciences, University of Chichester, Chichester, United Kingdom
(*****) University of Northampton, Northampton, United Kingdom
(******) Southern Cross University, Lismore, Australia
Citation
Leis, O., G. Trotter, M., Dj Birch, P., Bubna, K., R. Poulus, D. (2025). Stressors and coping strategies in amateur esports players: An Interview Study. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 56(1), 47-70. doi:10.7352/IJSP.2025.56.047
Abstract
While previous research has examined stress in professional esports players, the experiences of amateur esports players have received less attention. Therefore, this interview study, guided by the philosophical framework of critical realism, aimed to explore the stressors and coping strategies of amateur esports players. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 amateur esports players, selected purposefully through contacting esports clubs and social media, to capture diverse perspectives. The data analysis followed the principles of reflective thematic analysis, focusing on identifying stressors and coping strategies based on Leis et al. (2024). We identified a range of stressors, including team stressors (e.g., communication issues, criticism), performance stressors (e.g., performance pressure, fear of mistakes), social stressors (e.g., toxic in-game communication), organizational stressors (e.g., technical issues, travel demands), and personal stressors (e.g., balancing life, exam uncertainty). Coping strategies employed by amateur esports players encompass mastery coping (e.g., concentrating, optimizing surroundings), internal regulation (e.g., breathing, meditation), and goal withdrawal strategies (e.g., behavioral disengagement). The study further reports potential avenues for interventions, such as fostering positive team environments, promoting effective communication, and offering training in coping techniques tailored to the unique demands of esports. While the present study focuses on amateur esports players, our findings may contribute to a deeper understanding of stress and coping in esports and offer practical implications for enhancing well-being and performance in this competitive domain.
Keywords: Esports; Competitive gaming; Sport psychology; Sports; Stress; Stress management