Estudos sobre a ansiedade em atletas de e-sports

Abstract

Electronic games are constantly being improved and becoming more popular due to technological advancements, the acceptance of the population, and the accessibility of consoles. As a result, the competitive scene is also growing. Anxiety is a central issue in the performance of e-sports athletes, reflecting the complexity of the modern competitive landscape. This study aimed to explore this dynamic by analyzing recent scientific literature on the topic. An integrative literature review was conducted using the main databases available in Brazil, accessed through the Capes Portal of Journals. The research focused on articles published in the last five years, using the descriptors "E-sport AND psychology AND anxiety," resulting in an initial collection of 54 articles. After thorough screening by titles, abstracts, and keywords, 8 articles met the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results revealed a diverse range of impacts of anxiety on e-sports athletes, from autonomic alterations and stress levels associated with victories and defeats to more complex influences such as self-confidence and self-efficacy. Studies indicate that while high levels of self-efficacy can mitigate competitive anxiety, social phobic anxiety can predict significant mental health issues, such as depression and psychological distress. The review also highlighted the importance of targeted psychological interventions, especially in high-pressure competitive contexts, to help athletes better manage their mental health and improve performance. Furthermore, the need for future research is emphasized to more deeply explore the nuances of anxiety in this specific context, aiming to develop more effective interventions that promote the well-being and success of e-sports athletes.