Objectives:Recently,the global esports industry has experienced remarkable growth,leading to an expansion in the scale and influence of professional player communities.However,despite this outward growth,systems to pr...Objectives:Recently,the global esports industry has experienced remarkable growth,leading to an expansion in the scale and influence of professional player communities.However,despite this outward growth,systems to protect players’mental health remain inadequate.Comprehensive analysis of structural risk factors,including performance pressure,public evaluation,and career instability,remains insufficient.This study,aimed to explore stressors encountered by esports athletes,coping strategies,and the role of social support systems in safeguarding mental health.Using the transactional model of stress and coping,the job demands–resources model,and social support theory,the study adopts an integrated perspective to examine challenges faced by athletes in the competitive esports environment.Methods:A qualitative case study was conducted involving in-depth interviews and nonparticipant observations with 11 esports athletes who competed at national or international levels,as well as two team managers.Thematic analysis identified recurring patterns in the data,and credibility was ensured through triangulation and cross-review among researchers.Results:Esports athletes experience multiple interacting stressors,including performance demands,emotional strain duringmatches,and continuous evaluation on socialmedia.In response,they employed coping strategies—problem-focused,emotion-focused,and avoidance-based,which provided temporary relief but often led to burnout and self-regulation failure owing to absence of support systems.Social support networks had ambivalent effects:while offering comfort,they also intensified pressure through negative feedback and high expectations from fans and online communities.Conclusion:The findings show that mental health issues among esports athletes are not only related to individual factors but are closely linked to performance-driven structures,competitive environments,and social relationships.This study integrates the transactional model of stress and coping,the JobDemands–Resourcesmodel,and social support theoryto provide comprehensive analysis.It also offers practical recommendations,including psychological counseling,emotional labor programs,and improved communication with families and fan communities.展开更多
Objectives:In this study,we examined the psychological impact of hierarchical and authoritarian structures in elite sports teams in South Korea on the ego formation and mental health of athletes.We aimed to analyze ho...Objectives:In this study,we examined the psychological impact of hierarchical and authoritarian structures in elite sports teams in South Korea on the ego formation and mental health of athletes.We aimed to analyze how these environments shape psychological well-being in athletes,drawing on Freud’s group psychology theory,while integrating perspectives from the Self-DeterminationTheory(SDT)and Social Identity Theory(SIT).Methods:We applied a qualitative case-study approach,with data collected through in-depth interviews with eight retired elite table tennis players from South Korea.These athletes shared their experiences with psychological mechanisms in their teams and how those mechanisms impacted their mental health throughout their careers.We analyzed the collected data using thematic analysis.Results:The investigated psychological mechanisms significantly influenced the ego development and psychological well-being in athletes.In hierarchical and authoritarian environments,identification and ego idealization suppressed the autonomy of the athletes.Hierarchical order and obedience to authority figures exert significant pressure on athletes to conform,impeding the development of an independent ego.Furthermore,group pressure exacerbates ego erosion and psychological stress,while corporal punishment reinforces psychological pressure and hinders ego integrity.The integration of the SDT highlights the need for autonomy-supportive environments to mitigate such risks,while the SIT emphasizes balancing individual identity with group cohesion to address identity conflicts and psychological tension.Conclusion:Hierarchical structures and authoritarian dynamics in South Korean elite sports teams critically suppress autonomy in athletes,leading to psychological distress and identity conflicts.This study highlights the urgent need for systemic interventions to reform coaching practices and foster autonomysupportive environments.These results contribute to the global discourse on the mental health of athletes in elite sports and offer actionable strategies for improving long-term well-being.Finally,this study provides practical recommendations adaptable to diverse cultural and sporting contexts,enhancing athlete mental health worldwide.展开更多
文摘Objectives:Recently,the global esports industry has experienced remarkable growth,leading to an expansion in the scale and influence of professional player communities.However,despite this outward growth,systems to protect players’mental health remain inadequate.Comprehensive analysis of structural risk factors,including performance pressure,public evaluation,and career instability,remains insufficient.This study,aimed to explore stressors encountered by esports athletes,coping strategies,and the role of social support systems in safeguarding mental health.Using the transactional model of stress and coping,the job demands–resources model,and social support theory,the study adopts an integrated perspective to examine challenges faced by athletes in the competitive esports environment.Methods:A qualitative case study was conducted involving in-depth interviews and nonparticipant observations with 11 esports athletes who competed at national or international levels,as well as two team managers.Thematic analysis identified recurring patterns in the data,and credibility was ensured through triangulation and cross-review among researchers.Results:Esports athletes experience multiple interacting stressors,including performance demands,emotional strain duringmatches,and continuous evaluation on socialmedia.In response,they employed coping strategies—problem-focused,emotion-focused,and avoidance-based,which provided temporary relief but often led to burnout and self-regulation failure owing to absence of support systems.Social support networks had ambivalent effects:while offering comfort,they also intensified pressure through negative feedback and high expectations from fans and online communities.Conclusion:The findings show that mental health issues among esports athletes are not only related to individual factors but are closely linked to performance-driven structures,competitive environments,and social relationships.This study integrates the transactional model of stress and coping,the JobDemands–Resourcesmodel,and social support theoryto provide comprehensive analysis.It also offers practical recommendations,including psychological counseling,emotional labor programs,and improved communication with families and fan communities.
文摘Objectives:In this study,we examined the psychological impact of hierarchical and authoritarian structures in elite sports teams in South Korea on the ego formation and mental health of athletes.We aimed to analyze how these environments shape psychological well-being in athletes,drawing on Freud’s group psychology theory,while integrating perspectives from the Self-DeterminationTheory(SDT)and Social Identity Theory(SIT).Methods:We applied a qualitative case-study approach,with data collected through in-depth interviews with eight retired elite table tennis players from South Korea.These athletes shared their experiences with psychological mechanisms in their teams and how those mechanisms impacted their mental health throughout their careers.We analyzed the collected data using thematic analysis.Results:The investigated psychological mechanisms significantly influenced the ego development and psychological well-being in athletes.In hierarchical and authoritarian environments,identification and ego idealization suppressed the autonomy of the athletes.Hierarchical order and obedience to authority figures exert significant pressure on athletes to conform,impeding the development of an independent ego.Furthermore,group pressure exacerbates ego erosion and psychological stress,while corporal punishment reinforces psychological pressure and hinders ego integrity.The integration of the SDT highlights the need for autonomy-supportive environments to mitigate such risks,while the SIT emphasizes balancing individual identity with group cohesion to address identity conflicts and psychological tension.Conclusion:Hierarchical structures and authoritarian dynamics in South Korean elite sports teams critically suppress autonomy in athletes,leading to psychological distress and identity conflicts.This study highlights the urgent need for systemic interventions to reform coaching practices and foster autonomysupportive environments.These results contribute to the global discourse on the mental health of athletes in elite sports and offer actionable strategies for improving long-term well-being.Finally,this study provides practical recommendations adaptable to diverse cultural and sporting contexts,enhancing athlete mental health worldwide.
