As esports grow in popularity, more platforms are streaming them. Viewership is also rising. Between 2018 and 2019, esports viewership surged by 12.3%. By 2024, the audience is projected to reach 577.2 million. This includes both casual viewers and sports fans. What does this mean for esports pros, including those partnered with 22 Bet?
This larger audience can act as an external stressor. This growth places significant pressure on the individuals involved. An external stressor is an event or situation that causes stress. For example, feeling pressure from an audience or in media interviews. External factors like these can intensify personal stress. Internal stressors, such as thoughts about one’s expectations, can lead to stress. For example, needing to perform at the highest level can cause anxiety.
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What Stressors Do Competitive Esports Players Face?
There is evidence that competition causes stress and triggers the SNS. The fight-or-flight response is key to the body’s reaction to danger. For example, if someone pushes you, would you make them back or run away? This is the sympathetic nervous system’s reaction to a perceived threat. Competition can cause stress, harming performance. So, it’s vital to cope with stress. In a prior blog, I discussed the psychological challenges professional esports players face. This illustrates why esports players must find ways to cope with these stressors.
There is an exciting video on CBS News’ YouTube channel. It examines what it takes to be a pro esports player and the stresses that come with it. In this clip, Indy Halpern of the LA Gladiators (Overwatch) said, “When I went into esports, it’s a whole different stress level… you always have that pressure on your shoulders that you have to perform.” His team at the time used a psychologist to help deal with the stress the players experienced. In the same clip, Dr. Team psychologist Doug Gardner noted their stress in their faces and eyes. So, we are trying to avoid that burnout.”
What Coping Strategies are There?
Coping strategies are thoughts and actions. They help esports athletes cope with stress in tough situations. Various strategies are used, including emotion-focused, problem-focused, and avoidance-focused coping strategies. Emotion-focused coping strategies aim to reduce feelings caused by stressors. They seek to lower stress and anxiety. They avoid tackling the stressors directly. Examples include taking a break from playing, listening to music, or meditating. Problem-focused coping strategies involve facing a problem to solve it. For example, use communication strategies or be positive in your communication. Avoidance-focused coping is different as it consists of disengaging from a stressful situation. For example, not doing media interviews or not playing to avoid mistakes.
A study watched 316 esports athletes. They were in the top 40% in their games: CS:GO, Overwatch, League of Legends, Rainbow Six, and Dota 2. The study focused on their stress-coping strategies. The study found a link. Those with mental toughness used coping strategies. The study concluded that esports athletes would enjoy sports psychology interventions.
Also, esports athletes will use different coping strategies. It depends on the type of stressor they face. A study interviewed seven male players of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO). Their teams used several coping strategies: emotion, problem, and approach. They included breathing, relaxation, and team camps to avoid stress. They also aimed to improve communication within the team. These results align with how practitioners may help esports players. They can support players in finding ways to cope with internal and external stress. By managing this stress, players may experience improved performance and reduced pressure.
Final Thoughts
As esports grow, so do their viewers. Indy Halpern also notes that this can increase stress and the demands of performing. Stress can harm athletes’ health and performance. So, psychologists must help them cope.
Esports players used three main coping strategies. They were: 1. Emotion-focused ones, like breathing and relaxation. 2. Problem-focused ones, like positive in-game talk and post-game team chats. 3. Approach-focused ones, like team camps and assigning roles. These interventions can boost performance and reduce stress.
