IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsoctx/v15y2025i4p107-d1637549.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Online Gaming and Healthy Lifestyles: A Qualitative Study of Gamers in Saudi Arabia

Author

Listed:
  • Yara Almuhtadi

    (Community Health Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia)

  • Samah Alageel

    (Community Health Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Gamers and esports players encounter distinct health challenges that can affect their well-being and performance. Recognising these needs is crucial for developing effective health interventions. This study explored the barriers and facilitators to adopting a healthy lifestyle among gamers and their views on behaviour change interventions. We conducted semi-structured interviews with esports competitors and gamers, using the COM-B model to explore their perceptions. Participants discussed definitions of a healthy lifestyle, emphasising diet and physical activity. There was no consensus on its attainability, as personal, social, and environmental factors influenced perceptions of ease or difficulty. Participants identified key aspects for effective behaviour change interventions, including where, how, and when to implement them, considering these components can help in the design of interventions that are more effective, accessible, and engaging for the target population. This study highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach that considers the unique traits of gamers and their lifestyle. By tailoring health promotion efforts, policymakers can more effectively support this community in reaching its health and wellness objectives.

Suggested Citation

  • Yara Almuhtadi & Samah Alageel, 2025. "Online Gaming and Healthy Lifestyles: A Qualitative Study of Gamers in Saudi Arabia," Societies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-18, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:15:y:2025:i:4:p:107-:d:1637549
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/4/107/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/4/107/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:15:y:2025:i:4:p:107-:d:1637549. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.