Factors that impact emotional regulation on high-level performance e-sports athletes

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v14i7.49199

Keywords:

Performance, E-sports, Electronic sports, Emotional regulation, Sport psychology, Integrative review.

Abstract

The phenomenon of e-Sports has rapidly expanded over the last decade, being notable how the professionalization of electronic sports presents new academic challenges. Athletes need to master knowledge about the game and develop the comfort necessary for creative freedom to occur. Apparently, performance is associated with emotional stability. Thus, this integrative review sought to explore the literature that relates emotional regulation to the performance of high-performance athletes. Publications (in Portuguese and English) from 2015 to 2025 were considered, sourced from manuscript retrieval databases such as CAPES, Google Scholar, IndexPsi, Mendeley, PePsic, PsycINFO - APA, PubMed, and SciELO. Using the keywords: “e-sports,” “sport psychology,” and “electronic sports,” a total of 389 articles were located, with studies focused on traditional sports, research not related to psychology, and those not investigating emotional regulation as a performance factor being eliminated. After the final analysis, 21 articles were retained. The results found a positive impact of emotional regulation on e-sports performance. Emotions are extremely important for performance, as they can facilitate or inhibit an individual’s behavior. Similarly, performance can be hindered due to emotional dysregulation. It was concluded that emotional regulation affects performance jointly and simultaneously in the presence of internal and external factors that can be addressed through psychological interventions. New studies should be conducted to understand other factors that influence this context.

References

AlMarzooqi, M. A., Alhaj, O. A., Alrasheed, M. M., Helmy, M., Trabelsi, K., Ebrahim, A., Hattab, S., Jahrami, H. A., & Ben Saad, H. (2022). Symptoms of Nomophobia, Psychological Aspects, Insomnia and Physical Activity: A Cross-Sectional Study of ESports Players in Saudi Arabia. Healthcare, 10(2), 257.

Angelo, D. L. (2021). Clima Empowering e Disempowering: Necessidades psicológicas básicas, motivação, intenção de continuar e bem-estar em jogadores de League of Legends (Tese de Doutorado). Universidade São Judas Tadeu, São Paulo. Recuperado de https://repositorio.animaeducacao.com.br/handle/ANIMA/17524

AWERTI. (2025, junho 18). Top esports games in 2025 by prize money. eSports Charts. Recuperado junho 18, 2025, de https://escharts.com/top-games

Bach, T. (2024). Olympic eSports Games. Olympics. Recuperado junho 18, 2025, de Bach, T. (2024). Olympic eSports Games. Olympics. Recuperado junho 18, 2025, de https://www.olympics.com/pt/olympic-esports-games/

Behnke, M., Gross, J. J., & Kaczmarek, L. D. (2022). The role of emotions in esports performance. Emotion, 22(5), 1059–1070.

Bonnar, D., Castine, B., Kakoschke, N., & Sharp, G. (2019). Sleep and performance in Eathletes: For the win! Sleep Health, 5(6), 647–650.

Bonnar, D., Lee, S., Roane, B. M., Blum, D. J., Kahn, M., Jang, E., Dunican, I. C., Gradisar, M., & Suh, S (2022). Evaluation of a Brief Sleep Intervention Designed to Improve the Sleep, Mood, and Cognitive Performance of Esports Athletes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), 4146.

Brasil. Congresso Nacional. (2006). Lei nº 11.438: Lei de Incentivo ao Esporte. Brasília, DF. Recuperado junho 18, 2025, de https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2004-2006/2006/lei/l11438.htm

Brasil. Câmara dos Deputados. (2015). Projeto de Lei nº 3450/2015: Institui normas gerais sobre desporto para reconhecer o desporto virtual como prática esportiva. Brasília, DF. Recuperado junho 18, 2025, de https://www.camara.leg.br/proposicoesWeb/fichadetramitacao?idProposicao=2025514

Brasil. Câmara dos Deputados. (2023). Projeto de Lei nº 205/2023: Dispõe sobre os eSports. Brasília, DF. Recuperado junho 18, 2025, de https://www.camara.leg.br/proposicoesWeb/fichadetramitacao?idProposicao=2346952

Brown, J. M. (1998). Self-Regulation and the Addictive Behaviors. Em W. R. Miller & N. Heather (Orgs.), Treating Addictive Behaviors (p. 61–73). Boston, MA: Springer US. Recuperado abril 18, 2025, de http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-1-4899-1934-2_5

Campbell, M. J., Toth, A. J., Moran, A. P., Kowal, M., & Exton, C. (2018). eSports: A new window on neurocognitive expertise? Progress in Brain Research, 240, 161–174. Elsevier.

Cleary, T. J., & Zimmerman, B. J. (2001). Self-Regulation Differences during Athletic Practice by Experts, Non-Experts, and Novices. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 13(2), 185–206.

Clough, P., Earle, K., & Sewell, D. (2002). Mental toughness: The concept and its measurement. Solutions in sport psychology, 32–46.

Coimbra, D. R., Filho, M. B., Miranda, R., & Andrade, A. (2013). Habilidades psicológicas de coping em atletas brasileiros. Motricidade, 9(1), 95–106.

Crossetti, M. G. M. (2012). Revisión integradora de la investigación en enfermería el rigor científico que se le exige. Maria Da Graça Oliveira Crossetti. Rev. Gaúcha Enferm.33(2):8-9.

Duda, J. L. (2013). The conceptual and empirical foundations of Empowering CoachingTM: Setting the stage for the PAPA project. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 11(4), 311–318.

Entertainment Software Association. (2023). Essential facts about the computer and video game industry. Recuperado outubro 27, 2024, de https://www.theesa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ESA_2023_Essential_Facts_FINAL_07092023-1.pdf.

Filho, J. de P. L. (2020). A experiência de fluxo nos esports: Uma análise do contexto universitário (Tese de Mestrado). Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro. Recuperado de https://repositorio.unesp.br/items/8741f0d3-13cc-4881-b060-01943e305df8

Funk, D. C., Pizzo, A. D., & Baker, B. J. (2018). eSport management: Embracing eSport education and research opportunities. Sport Management Review, 21(1), 7–13.

Géczi, G., Tóth, L., Sipos, K., Fügedi, B., Dancs, H., & Bognár, J. (2009). Psychological profile of Hungarian national young ice hockey players. Kinesiology, 41(1), 88–96. Croatia: Fakultet za Fizicku Kulturu.

Goedert, M. C. F., & Soares, A. K. S. (2019). Esporte eletrônico: Revisão sistemática da produção de conhecimento em psicologia. Psicologia Argumento, 37(97), 398.

Goodale, G. (2003, agosto 8). Are video games a sport? Recuperado agosto 27, 2024, de https://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0808/p13s01-alsp.html?entryBottomStory

Goudas, M., Theodorakis, Y., & Karamousalidis, G. (1998). Psychological Skills in Basketball: Preliminary Study for Development of a Greek Form of the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 86(1), 59–65.

Gough, D. (2007). Weight of Evidence: A framework for the appraisal of the quality and relevance of evidence. Research Papers in Education, 22(2), 213–228.

Gross, J. J. (1999). Emotion Regulation: Past, Present, Future. Cognition and Emotion, 13(5), 551–573.

Hallmann, K., & Giel, T. (2018). eSports – Competitive sports or recreational activity? Sport Management Review, 21(1), 14–20.

Heere, B. (2018). Embracing the sportification of society: Defining e-sports through a polymorphic view on sport. Sport Management Review, 21(1), 21–24.

Hemphill, D. (2005). Cybersport. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, 32(2), 195–207. Routledge.

Himmelstein, D., Liu, Y., & Shapiro, J. L. (2017). An Exploration of Mental Skills Among Competitive League of Legend Players. International Journal of Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations, 9(2), 1–21.

Holden, J. T., Kaburakis, A., & Rodenberg, R. (2017). The Future Is Now: Esports Policy Considerations and Potential Litigation. Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport, 27(1), 46–78.

Kirschen, G. W., Jones, J. J., & Hale, L. (2020). The Impact of Sleep Duration on Performance Among Competitive Athletes: A Systematic Literature Review. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 30(5), 503–512.

Lazarus, R. S. (1991). Emotion and adaptation. Emotion and adaptation. (p. xiii, 557). New York, NY, US: Oxford University Press.

Leahy, R. L., Tirch, D., Napolitano, L. A., & Oliveira, I. H. de. (2013). Regulação emocional em psicoterapia: Um guia para o terapeuta cognitivo-comportamental. 1a edição. Artmed.

Leis, O., & Lautenbach, F. (2020). Psychological and physiological stress in non-competitive and competitive esports settings: A systematic review. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 51, 101738.

Long, A., Drabicky, N., & Rhodes, H. (2018). The emergence of eSports & the advertising opportunities within the ecosystem. PMG.

Ma, H., Wu, Y., & Wu, X. (2013). Research on Essential Difference of E-Sport and Online Game (p. 615–621).

Matsui, A., Sapienza, A., & Ferrara, E. (2020). Does Streaming Esports Affect Players’ Behavior and Performance? Games and Culture, 15(1), 9–31.

Mendes, W. B., & Park, J. (2014). Neurobiological concomitants of motivational states. Advances in motivation science, Vol. 1., Advances in motivation science., 233–270. San Diego, CA, US: Elsevier Academic Press.

Moola, S., Munn, Z., Sears, K., Sfetcu, R., Currie, M., Lisy, K., Tufanaru, C., Qureshi, R., Mattis, P., & Mu, P. (2024). Systematic reviews of Etiology and risk. Em E. Aromataris, C. Lockwood, K. Porritt, B. Pilla, & Z. Jordan (Orgs.), JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. JBI. Recuperado abril 24, 2025, de https://jbi-global-wiki.refined.site/space/MANUAL/355598596/7.+Systematic+reviews+of+etiology+and+risk

Nicholls, A. R., Levy, A. R., Carson, F., Thompson, M. A., & Perry, J. L. (2016). The applicability of self-regulation theories in sport: Goal adjustment capacities, stress appraisals, coping, and well-being among athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 27, 47–55.

Nicholls, A. R., & Polman, R. C. J. (2007). Coping in sport: A systematic review. Journal of Sports Sciences, 25(1), 11–31.

Page, M. J., Moher, D., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D. et al. (2021). PRISMA 2020 explanation and elaboration: updated guidance and exemplars for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 372 (160): 1–36. PRISMA. (2021). Transparent Reporting of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. https://www.prisma-statement.org/

Park, J.-K. (2000). Coping Strategies Used by Korean National Athletes. The Sport Psychologist, 14(1), 63–80.

Parry, J. (2019). E-sports are Not Sports. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, 13(1), 3–18.

Pedraza-Ramirez, I., Musculus, L., Raab, M., & Laborde, S. (2020). Setting the scientific stage for esports psychology: A systematic review. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 13(1), 319–352. Routledge.

Pereira A. S. et al. (2018). Metodologia da pesquisa científica. [free e-book]. Santa Maria/RS. Ed. UAB/NTE/UFSM.

Pereira, R. (2018). Associações entre personalidade e coping na qualidade de vida em jogadores profissionais de league of legends no Brasil (Tese de Mestrado). Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis. Recuperado de https://repositorio.ufsc.br/handle/123456789/198729

Pereira, R., Wilwert, M., & Takase, E. (2016). Contributions of Sport Psychology to the Competitive Gaming: An Experience Report with a Professional Team of League of Legends, 2016, 27–30.

Pluss, M. A., Bennett, K. J. M., Novak, A. R., Panchuk, D., Coutts, A. J., & Fransen, J. (2019). Esports: The Chess of the 21st Century. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. Recuperado de https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00156

Popper, B. (2013, setembro 30). Field of streams: How Twitch made video games a spectator sport. Recuperado outubro 27, 2024, de https://www.theverge.com/2013/9/30/4719766/twitch-raises-20-million-esports-market-booming

Positionierung vom DOSB-Präsidium und -Vorstand. (2018, outubro 29). Umgang mit elektronischen Sportartsimulationen, eGaming und „eSport“. Recuperado outubro 27, 2024, de https://web-archive-org.translate.goog/web/20181129100905/https://www.dosb.de/ueber-uns/esport/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Poulus, D. R., Bennett, K. Jm., Swann, C., Moyle, G. M., & Polman, R. Cj. (2023). The influence of an esports-adapted coping effectiveness training (E-CET) on resilience, mental health, and subjective performance among elite league of Legends players: A pilot study. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 69, 102510.

Poulus, D. R., Coulter, T. J., Trotter, M. G., & Polman, R. (2020). Stress and Coping in Esports and the Influence of Mental Toughness. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 628.

Poulus, D. R., Coulter, T. J., Trotter, M. G., & Polman, R. (2021). A qualitative analysis of the perceived determinants of success in elite esports athletes. Journal of Sports Sciences, 40(7), 742–753.

Poulus, D. R., Coulter, T. J., Trotter, M. G., & Polman, R. (2022). Longitudinal analysis of stressors, stress, coping and coping effectiveness in elite esports athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 60, 102093.

Poulus, D. R., Sharpe, B. T., Jackman, P. C., Swann, C., & Bennett, K. J. M. (2024). Defining elite esports athletes: A scoping review. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 1–36.

Raue, C., Dreiskämper, D., & Strauss, B. (2020). Do esports teams function with the same team dynamically principles as traditional teams? Shedding light on esports: Embracing research opportunities (p. 52). Apresentado em Jahrestagung der Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Sportpsychologie, Salzburg, Austria: Günter Amesberger, Sabine Würth, Thomas Finkenzeller.

Rodrigues, M. F. B. de S. (2022). Psicologia e eSports: As contribuições da atuação do Psicólogo. (Tese de Licenciatura). Universidade de Uberaba, Uberaba. Recuperado de http://dspace.uniube.br:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/2059

Roland, L. (2017). Good Luck Have Fun: The Rise of Esports. Skyhorse Publishing.

Santos, M. (2008). Técnico, Espaço, Tempo Globalização E Meio Técnico-Científico Informacional (5 ed.). Edusp.

Santos, E. Z. L. dos, & Maia, J. G. R. (2018). Condições socioeconômicas versus profissionalização nos e-Sports (Tese de Bacharelado). Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza. Recuperado de http://www.repositorio.ufc.br/handle/riufc/45849

Schürmann, V. (2019). Am Fall eSport: Wie den Sport bestimmen? German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research, 49(4), 472–481.

Silva, A. K. C., Silva, A. C. N., & Urbano, B. F. (2021). O processo de sumarização na construção de resumos acadêmicos: Um estudo desenvolvido em contexto de aula remota. Iniciação & Formação Docente, 8(1), 74.

Smith, M. J., Birch, P. D. J., & Bright, D. (2019). Identifying Stressors and Coping Strategies of Elite Esports Competitors: International Journal of Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations, 11(2), 22–39.

Taylor, T. L. (2012). Raising the Stakes. The MIT Press.

Thiel, A., & John, J. M. (2020). Ist eSports Sport? Über die Aus-breitung virtueller Wettkämpfe und deren potenzielle Folgen. Das Phänomen E-Sport: Eine wissenschaftliche Annäherung aus verschiedenen Disziplinen, (A. R. Hofmann), 27–58. Meyer & Meyer.

Thompson, R. A. (2019). Emotion dysregulation: A theme in search of definition. Development and Psychopathology, 31(3), 805–815.

Trotter, M. G., Obine, E. A. C., & Sharpe, B. T. (2023). Self-regulation, stress appraisal, and esport action performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1265778.

Türkay, S., Formosa, J., Adinolf, S., Cuthbert, R., & Altizer, R. (2020). See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil: How Collegiate Players Define, Experience and Cope with Toxicity. Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (p. 1–13). Apresentado em CHI ’20: CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Honolulu HI USA: ACM. Recuperado abril 23, 2025, de https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3313831.3376191

Villa, D. (2019). Estudo da competitividade em e-sports e a aplicação da psicologia do esporte (Tese de Licenciatura). Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro. Recuperado de http://hdl.handle.net/11449/234584

Villas Boas Junior, M., Fabrício Pallone Manzini, M. ., Hernandes, V. ., de Freitas Corrêa, M. ., Braz, S. H. ., Lopes Angelo, D. ., Reyes-Bossio, M. ., Winkler, C. ., Brandão, R., & Massoli Rodrigues, G. (2024). ASPECTOS MOTIVACIONAIS E EMPODERAMENTO DE ATLETAS ANÕES: UMA ABORDAGEM QUALITATIVA. Revista da Associação Brasileira de Atividade Motora Adaptada, 25(2), 255–272.

Wagner, M. G. (2006). On the scientific relevance of esports. In International conference on Internet computing, 437–442.

Whalen, S. J. (2013). Cyberathletes’ Lived Experience of Video Game Tournaments (Dissertação de Doutorado). University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Willimczik, K. (2019). eSport „ist“ nicht Sport – eSport und Sport haben Bedeutungen. German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research, 49(1), 78–90.

Published

2025-07-20

Issue

Section

Human and Social Sciences

How to Cite

Factors that impact emotional regulation on high-level performance e-sports athletes. Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 14, n. 7, p. e6214749199, 2025. DOI: 10.33448/rsd-v14i7.49199. Disponível em: https://rsdjournal.org/rsd/article/view/49199. Acesso em: 5 dec. 2025.