SupplementsExercise

Physical activity improves mental well-being in esports practitioners through improved sleep quality and reduced cognitive fatigue

Physical activity (PA) positively predicted mental well-being in esports players, serially mediated by improved sleep quality and reduced cognitive fatigue. SHAP analysis revealed a non-linear dose-response pattern, with the steepest benefits at 600-1,200 MET-min/week and plateauing beyond approximately 1,800 MET-min/week.

Last updated: Jul 30, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score32/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Integrating physical activity into esports practice: predicting mental well-being and cognitive fatigue through a dual SEM-XAI approach.

observational

Zhou X, Ma R · Frontiers in psychology (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A
Intervention: Self-reported physical activity levels (MET-min/week)
Outcome: Mental well-being, sleep quality, cognitive fatigue
Effect Size: N/A
Population: 512 collegiate and semi-professional esports practitioners

Result:

PubMed: 42516179DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1831947

Mechanism Graph

Physical activity improves sleep quality
↓
Improved sleep quality reduces cognitive fatigue
↓
Reduced cognitive fatigue enhances mental well-being
↓
Result: PA positively predicts mental well-being via serial mediation

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference
  • ⚠Self-reported measures may introduce recall bias
  • ⚠Sample limited to collegiate and semi-professional players, not generalizable to elite professionals

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the optimal amount of physical activity for esports players' mental health?▼

The study suggests 600-1,200 MET-min/week (e.g., about 150-300 minutes of moderate activity) provides the steepest benefits, with diminishing returns beyond 1,800 MET-min/week.

Does physical activity directly improve mental well-being in esports?▼

The effect is indirect: PA improves sleep quality, which reduces cognitive fatigue, and this in turn boosts mental well-being.

Is this study applicable to professional esports athletes?▼

The sample included collegiate and semi-professional players, so results may not fully generalize to elite professionals.

What analytical methods were used in this study?▼

Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) tested mediation and moderation, while Explainable AI (Random Forest with SHAP) identified non-linear dose-response patterns.

Products

Affiliate links coming soon. We only recommend products that match the doses and forms used in the cited research.

References

  1. 1.Zhou X, Ma R. "Integrating physical activity into esports practice: predicting mental well-being and cognitive fatigue through a dual SEM-XAI approach.." Frontiers in psychology, 2026. PMID: 42516179 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1831947
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.