Study uncovers hidden challenges facing elite esports athletes

Professional esports players who represent their country experience intense psychological pressure that can have lasting effects on their wellbeing, new research from the University of Stirling has found.

The study is among the first in the world to explore the experiences of South Korean professional esports players who competed at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

The event saw competitive gaming become a full medal sport for the first time. It featured seven medal events and saw 475 athletes from 30 nations participate, fundamentally reshaping how professional players are recognised as national representatives.

The findings come as esports prepares to return as an official medal event at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan in September and October, and international momentum continues towards the Olympic Esports Games, to be organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Defining honour

The research reveals how competing at the 2022 Asian Games, one of the world's largest multi-sport events, transformed what it meant to be a professional gamer.

The study is based on almost 10 hours of in-depth interviews with ten South Korean professional esports players who represented their country at the Asian Games. Their experiences were analysed to identify common themes around qualification, preparation, competition and life after the event.

Participants described representing South Korea as a career-defining honour. Many also experienced levels of pressure unlike anything they had previously encountered in professional esports competition, with some reporting lasting emotional distress after the Games.

Psychological demands

Dr Hee Jung Hong, Associate Professor in Sport at the University of Stirling's Centre for Research and Innovation in Sport (CRIS) and lead author of the study, said: "Esports is entering a defining period in its history. As it becomes increasingly recognised within the international sporting system, players are no longer simply competing for themselves or their teams. They are representing their countries on one of the world's biggest sporting stages.

"Our research shows that while this brings enormous pride and recognition, it also creates significant psychological demands.

"If esports is to continue its rapid growth as an international sport, governance, player welfare and mental health support must evolve alongside it."

Dr Hee Jung Hong (right) and Dr Sungkyung Kim, who co-authored the study

Participants described adapting to a very different competitive environment at the Asian Games, including anti-doping regulations, residential training camps, enhanced athlete support services and greater public scrutiny. Many valued the comprehensive psychological support, physical healthcare and performance analysis provided throughout the event.

However, the research found that support should not end when competition finishes. Some players reported struggling with the emotional impact of the Games after returning home, highlighting the need for ongoing mental health provision and longer-term player welfare.

The research also suggests that esports is undergoing a significant transformation. Traditionally driven by commercial game publishers and professional organisations, the industry is becoming increasingly integrated into established international sporting structures.

The study argues that stronger governance, clearer regulations, sustainable career pathways and athlete-centred support systems will become increasingly important.

The Korea Esports Association (KeSPA), South Korea's national governing body for esports, supported participant recruitment and was highlighted by players as an example of good practice.

Participants praised the organisation's integrated approach to psychological support, healthcare and performance services, suggesting it could provide a valuable model for other national esports organisations as the sector continues to develop.

Practical evidence

Dr Sungkyung Kim, Lecturer in Sport Management at the University of Stirling and co-author of the study, said: "The study offers practical evidence for governments, policymakers, governing bodies and event organisers seeking to build a sustainable and athlete-centred future for esports.

"As esports becomes an increasingly prominent part of the global sporting landscape, the study provides timely evidence to help shape policies that protect player wellbeing while supporting the continued professionalisation of the industry."

The paper, Institutionalising Esports: Professional Players and National Representation at the 2022 Asian Games, is published in the International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics.