Co-Transformation of Digital Health and eSport in Metaverse: Moderating Effects of Digital Personality on Mental Health in Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)

Lin Cai (), Zengsong Huang, Qiujin Feng, Xiaoming Chang and Kexin Yan
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Lin Cai: College of Sport Science, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, China
Zengsong Huang: School of Physical Education, Jiaying University, Meizhou 514015, China
Qiujin Feng: Department of Physical Education, Kunsan National University, 558 Daehakro, Gunsan 54150, Republic of Korea
Xiaoming Chang: College of Sport Science, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, China
Kexin Yan: College of Sport Science, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Mental health issues (e.g., social exclusion, depression, anxiety, and burnout) became highly prevalent in the global eSport industry. Likewise, the eSport trend in China also dramatically increased, while the attitudes and behaviours of the players also impacted their intentions to utilize video gaming. As China became the epicentre of the online video gaming industry, especially MOBA, it primarily influenced young athletes to adopt video gaming strategies for training purposes. Still, preventive measures are needed for video gaming addictions by athletes to improve their overall eSport performance. To conduct this study, self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 400 athletes aged 18–27 years; the response rate was adequate after screening, out of which 345 were finalized for the data analysis. The results indicate that metaverse-based digital healthcare significantly impacts eSport performance. Moreover, mental health significantly mediated the relationship between metaverse-based digital health and eSport performance. In addition, the digital personality also significantly moderated the relationship between metaverse-based digital healthcare and eSport performance. This research holds tremendous significance both from theoretical and practical perspectives. The study adds valuable insights to the growing body of literature regarding eSport gaming and mental health. The beneficial and constructive intuitions regarding eSport from a psychological perspective can be gained from this study, along with its pros and cons on the mental health of young Chinese athletes.

Keywords: mental health; digital personality; eSport performance; metaverse; digital healthcare; theory of behaviourism; cognitive theory; multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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