A stabilizing factor?–Video gaming among elite athletes during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

ObjectivesLittle is known about the extent of video gaming among elite athletes, specifically under stressful conditions like those induced by the current COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intensity and extent of video gaming in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the usual daily routine of many athletes was disrupted.MethodsOverall, 203 elite athletes from Switzerland who participated in Olympic sports or in “International Olympic Committee”—approved disciplines were interviewed using an online questionnaire. They were questioned on their video game consumption during the first Swiss lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as on their athletic performance and economic circumstances. Additionally, mental and physical health were assessed by standardized questionnaires. From this questionnaire data, predictors of gaming time were evaluated using multivariable analysis.ResultsBefore the lockdown, 21% of the participating athletes played video games regularly. The average playing time was 15.8 h per month within the gamer group. During the first lockdown, 29% of athletes reported gaming regularly, and within the gamer group the average gaming time increased significantly, by 164%. The mental health burden showed significant differences between gamers and non-gamers regarding existential fears during the lockdown, the ability to cope with governmental measures due to COVID-19 and total sleeping time. However, there was no statistical difference in respect to standardized scales for depressive symptoms, sleep behavior, and anxiety. Higher video gaming time during the lockdown was significantly associated with male gender and previous gaming before the COVID-19 lockdown.ConclusionVideo gaming time increased significantly during the first lockdown. Whether video gaming among elite athletes hereby functions as an effective coping behavior remains to be shown and requires more research.

¿Cómo usan el teléfono móvil y los videojuegos los atletas adolescentes de alto rendimiento?

“…Los hombres muestran una mayor adicción y dependencia que las mujeres, y los mayores de 26 años poseían una mayor dureza mental y menor dependencia que los más jóvenes. Durante el confinamiento por la COVID-19, el tiempo dedicado a los videojuegos aumentó significativamente en los deportistas adultos, especialmente en los hombres (Breckwoldt et al, 2022) Basándonos en la revisión actual de la literatura, los jóvenes deportistas son una población de interés de estudio en relación con las tecnologías debido a la etapa evolutiva en la que se encuentran y las múltiples demandas que enfrentan a nivel personal, académico y deportivo. Se percibe ciertas diferencias en el comportamiento tecnológico entre jóvenes deportistas y la población general, así como entre chicos y chicas, aunque faltan suficientes estudios científicos que lo confirmen.…”

“…Adicionalmente, se encontró que, en la población de atletas, los chicos dedican más tiempo a los videojuegos que las chicas tanto durante la semana como los fines de semana, lo cual está respaldado por otros estudios sobre la población general de adolescentes (Adelantado-Renau et al, 2020; Díaz-López et al, 2020). Estos hallazgos son relevantes debido a que se ha observado una mayor adicción y dependencia a los videojuegos en hombres deportistas (López-Mora et al, 2022), así como un mayor aumento en su uso durante la pandemia (Breckwoldt et al, 2022). La presencia de estereotipos de género y discriminación hacia las mujeres en el sector de los videojuegos es un fenómeno que ha sido documentado en la literatura (García-Naveira et al, 2023).…”

A Comparative Study Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Mental Toughness Of National Level Players Of Selected Team Games

“…These disruptions in the sports world have had a profound effect on the mental toughness of national level players in team games. The study conducted by Pété et al in France emphasized the need for coping mechanisms to address the long-term impact of the pandemic on elite athletes' mental health (Breckwoldt et al, 2022). The inability to participate in sporting events has resulted in negative economic, health, and well-being issues for athletes (Hamilton et al, 2021).…”