Exploration of esports on its participation, health and performance: a mixed-methods study (PhD Academy Award)

Abstract

I investigated how physical exercise influences esports performance and examined fundamental issues in esports development through five interconnected studies. This research focused on establishing standardised terminology, analysing health impacts, exploring gender participation patterns and evaluating the effectiveness of structured exercise programmes in enhancing competitive gaming performance. Esports has gained recognition as a formal sport and made appearances in major international events like the Asian Games. However, several critical issues remain unresolved. First, the lack of standardised terminology creates confusion in research methodology and result interpretation, hindering academic development.1 Second, while esports is frequently associated with negative health outcomes,2 existing studies have methodological limitations and fail to distinguish between casual gaming and esports.3 Most importantly, as esports athletes become increasingly professional, their typically short career spans, often attributed to health issues, highlight the urgent need to explore the potential benefits of traditional sports training methods.4 5 While preliminary evidence suggests physical exercise may enhance cognitive function, reaction time and sustained attention, systematic empirical evidence remains scarce.6 7 Additionally, despite the increasing number of female participants in esports, particularly in mobile gaming, research on gender-specific experiences and barriers remains insufficient. Indeed, for esports to develop into a formally recognised competitive sport with status equal to traditional athletics and gain global recognition, its equality and inclusivity are crucial.8 Therefore, developing a deeper understanding of …