Daily Adherence and Barriers to Physical Exercise in Esports Athletes: A 30-Day Diary Study

Regular physical exercise (PE) may enhance health and performance in competitive gaming and esports, yet sustained engagement remains challenging. This study examined adherence patterns and factors associated with PE behaviour over time, with a specific focus on barriers and prospective confidence.

Eighteen club-affiliated competitive players completed a 30-day diary protocol. Participants were instructed to perform structured high-intensity interval sessions at least three times per week. Daily entries captured planned exercise, completion (full/partial vs. none), barriers (multiple selections possible), confidence for the next session (0-10), and additional PEs. Analyses were conducted on days with planned sessions using generalised linear mixed models with a binary adherence outcome (completed vs. not completed), accounting for repeated measures within individuals.

Across 239 planned sessions, 47.7% were completed and adherence showed substantial within- and between-person variability. Higher prospective confidence was positively associated with completion. Time constraints emerged as the most frequently reported barrier and showed negative associations with adherence. Engagement in additional PE on the same day showed no consistent association with adherence. Descriptive findings indicated moderate-to-high variability in perceived PE benefits and responses to exercise.

Adherence to structured PE in competitive gaming contexts is highly dynamic and associated with both self-regulatory (confidence) and situational (barriers) factors. The findings suggest that barrier management and self-regulatory processes may represent relevant targets for future interventions. The findings highlight the importance of within-person approaches when evaluating PE behaviour in this population.