Impact Of Gaming Addiction On Mental Health Among E-Sport Players: Mediating Role Of Sleep Problems

Abstract

The rise of Electronic Sports (E-sports) has led to an increasing number of individuals participating in competitive gaming. While E-sports provides entertainment and community engagement, excessive gaming may lead to negative psychological outcomes. This study explores the impact of gaming addiction on mental health among E-sport players, specifically examining the mediating role of sleep problems. A sample of 200 E-sport players was surveyed using the Gaming Addiction Scale (GAS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Mental Health Inventory (MHI). The findings indicate that gaming addiction is significantly associated with higher psychological distress and lower psychological well-being. Sleep problems were found to mediate the relationship between gaming addiction and psychological well-being but not psychological distress. These results highlight the importance of addressing both gaming addiction and sleep disturbances in promoting better mental health among E-sport players. Implications for intervention and future research are discussed.

Keywords

E-sports, gaming addiction, mental health, sleep problems, psychological distress