Hiroaki Yamamoto

Background: Sleep quality and mental health are important concerns for esports competitors. However, epidemiological data regarding sleep quality and psychological distress among high-level esports players remain limited. Objective: This study aimed to examine sleep quality and mental health status among high-level esports competitors in Japan and to identify factors associated with psychological distress. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 275 competitors (269 males, 3 females, and 3 who did not report sex) participating in the 2023 National Prefectural Esports Championship. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), psychological distress using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), and depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify associated factors. Results: The response rate was 61.8% (275/445). Poor sleep quality (PSQI > cut-off) was observed in 38.5% of competitors. Based on the K6, 24.4% reported psychological distress above the mild threshold, and 29.5% reported mild or greater depressive symptoms according to the PHQ-9. Overall mental health levels were comparable to those reported in previous studies of general populations. Nighttime esports training was significantly associated with psychological distress (adjusted odds ratio 3.80; 95% confidence interval 1.50–9.64; p = 0.005). Conclusions: More than one-third of Japanese esports competitors experience poor sleep quality, and approximately one-quarter report mild or greater psychological distress. Nighttime esports training may be an important factor associated with mental health among competitors. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to clarify temporal relationships and to examine whether reducing nighttime training is associated with improved mental health outcomes among esports competitors.

Objective: Stress fractures (SF), menstrual dysfunction (MD), and eating disorders (ED) in young athletes are important issues. We conducted this study to determine the frequency of SF, MD, and ED experienced by high school track and field athletes in Japan and to understand the factors associated with them. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 1199 high level high school track and field athletes (608 males and 591 females) who participated in a selective training camp held by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations. Results: Approximately one in four male and female athletes self-reported SF. Moreover, we identified the length of the practice time per week and the event (sprinting, middle-distance, jumping, and combined) as relevant factors. Approximately one in three female athletes self-reported MD history, with those participating in long-distance events experiencing it significantly more frequently than those participants in sprinting, throwing, and jumping events. Furthermore, we identified ED history and long-distance events as MD history-related factors. ED history was self-reported at low frequency without gender difference, and long-distance was significantly more frequently reported than sprinting and jumping. Conclusions: About a quarter of Japanese high school track and field athletes experience SF, and about a third of the females experience MD. The association of these with athletic events, training time, and ED should be considered.