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Comparison of Psychological and Cognitive Characteristics between Professional Internet Game Players and Professional Baseball Players

Author

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  • Jin Oh Kang

    (Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06973, Korea)

  • Kyoung Doo Kang

    (Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06973, Korea)

  • Jea Woog Lee

    (Department of Information & Technology in Sport, College of Sport Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea)

  • Jae Jun Nam

    (Department of Golf, Korea Golf University, Hoeng Seong, Gang won-do 25247, Korea)

  • Doug Hyun Han

    (Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06973, Korea)

Abstract

The esports industry is increasing in popularity and is now played at the professional level. We hypothesized that esports players may have a significant advantage over the general population in terms of psychological and cognitive characteristics, which may be similar to that of professional baseball players. We recruited three participant groups: esports players ( n = 55), pro-baseball players ( n = 57), and age- and sex-matched healthy comparison subjects ( n = 60). We assessed psychological status using the Korean versions of Temperament and Character Inventory and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory and cognitive functions using the modified Tower of London, Emotional Perception, and Mental Rotation tests. Esports players had similar psychological characteristics to pro-baseball players (higher novelty seeking [ p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.818], self-directedness [ p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.757], and self-transcendence scores [ p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.853], and decreased state anxiety scores [ p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.808]), which differed from those of the general population. However, esports players showed higher working memory [ p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.823] and slower emotional perception than pro-baseball players [ p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.812]. In conclusion, esports and pro-baseball players had similar psychological but different cognitive characteristics.

Suggested Citation

  • Jin Oh Kang & Kyoung Doo Kang & Jea Woog Lee & Jae Jun Nam & Doug Hyun Han, 2020. "Comparison of Psychological and Cognitive Characteristics between Professional Internet Game Players and Professional Baseball Players," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-13, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:13:p:4797-:d:380006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Irene R Faber & Marije T Elferink-Gemser & Niels R Faber & Frits G J Oosterveld & Maria W G Nijhuis-Van der Sanden, 2016. "Can Perceptuo-Motor Skills Assessment Outcomes in Young Table Tennis Players (7–11 years) Predict Future Competition Participation and Performance? An Observational Prospective Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(2), pages 1-13, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yinhao Shen & Antonio Cicchella, 2023. "Health Consequences of Intensive E-Gaming: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-10, January.

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