Skill and Emotion Regulation in Esports Gamers (SERG)

Esports are popular because they are an exciting, competitive activity which can distract people from the negative experiences of everyday life. Yet, to achieve competitive success in esports, players must regulate their emotions in-game to achieve their goals, such as locking in and focusing on a difficult match or decreasing nerves to avoid choking away a win. This study surveys esports competitors of all skill levels to understand how emotion regulation skills – both in general and specific to in-game situations – predict real-world tournament performance. We will also investigate how emotion regulation may support long-term engagement with a game, which often but not always leads to increased skill and competitive success. Understanding the relationship between emotion regulation and esports skill not only allows us to better support players and esports sustainability long-term, but also understand how these games function as an emotional escape or, alternatively, a source of confidence and resilience.