As Critical as the Score in the E-Sports World: The Effect of Stress on Eating Behavior

In e-sports players, the competitive environment and increased time spent in front of the screen for the game may lead to stress and physical inactivity, and individuals may develop negative eating behaviors. In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between perceived stress and eating behavior in e-sports players. This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted with 235 e-sports players aged between 18 and 29 years who are members of the e-sports community of a public university in Turkey. The questionnaire form used to obtain the study data included information on general and eating habits, Adult Eating Behavior Scale, SCOFF Eating Disorders Scale and Perceived Stress Scale. Among the e-sports players who participated in the study, 85.5% were male and 50.2% were between the ages of 18-23 (mean age 23.9 ± 4.4). The results of regression analysis showed that as the perceived stress level increased in e-sports players, SCOFF (β = 1.093), emotional over-eating (β = 0.306), hunger (β = 0.455), and emotional under-eating (β = 0.193) scores tended to increase (p < 0.05). Perceived stress level was found to be associated with eating behaviors in individuals interested in e-sports. These results reveal the importance of interventions that support stress management and healthy eating behaviors for e-sports players.