Examining the Mental Training Data of E-Athletes and Traditional Athletes

Öz

Aim: This study aimed to compare the mental training data of e-sports players and traditional athletes. Methods: A total of 210 athletes (113 traditional athletes and 97 e-sports players) participated in the study. Data was collected using a mixed-method approach (online and face-to-face surveys) between September 2024 and November 2024. The Sports Mental Training Inventory (SZAE) was used to measure participants' mental training skills. Results: According to the findings, e-sports athletes were found to have significantly higher mental training skills than traditional athletes in terms of mental basic skills, mental performance skills, and total scale scores. It was found that athletes participating in international competitions had higher mental training skills in all sub-dimensions of the mental training scale and in the total score. However, the perception of e-sports as a sport only created a significant difference in the ‘self-talk’ sub-dimension, with individuals who did not perceive e-sports as a sport scoring higher in this sub-dimension. Conclusion: These findings highlight the unique mental demands of e-sports and the critical role of elite-level competition in mental preparation. The study offers important insights into the development of customized mental training programs for e-sports athletes and an understanding of the changing nature of sport.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• E-sports
• Mental Training
• Performance
• Traditional Sports

E-Sporcular ile Geleneksel Sporcuların Zihinsel Antrenman Verilerinin İncelenmesi

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışma, e-sporcular ile geleneksel sporcuların zihinsel antrenman verilerini karşılaştırmalı olarak incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Yöntem: Araştırmaya toplam 210 sporcu (113 geleneksel sporcu, 97 e-sporcu) katılmıştır. Veriler, karma yöntem (çevrimiçi ve yüz yüze anket) aracılığıyla Eylül 2024-Kasım 2024 tarihleri arasında toplanmıştır. Katılımcıların zihinsel antrenman becerilerini ölçmek amacıyla Sporda Zihinsel Antrenman Envanteri (SZAE) kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Elde edilen bulgulara göre, e-sporcuların zihinsel temel beceriler, zihinsel performans becerileri ve ölçek toplam puanında geleneksel sporculara kıyasla anlamlı düzeyde daha yüksek zihinsel antrenman becerilerine sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Uluslararası yarışmalara katılan sporcuların, zihinsel antrenman ölçeğinin tüm alt boyutlarında ve toplam puanında daha yüksek zihinsel antrenman becerilerine sahip olduğu tespit edilmiştir. E-sporu spor olarak görme durumunun ise sadece "kendinle konuşma" alt boyutunda anlamlı bir fark yarattığı ve e-sporu spor olarak görmeyen bireylerin bu alt boyutta daha yüksek puan aldığı saptanmıştır. Sonuç: Bu bulgular, e-sporun kendine özgü zihinsel taleplerini ve elit düzeyde rekabetin zihinsel hazırlık üzerindeki kritik rolünü vurgulamaktadır. Çalışma, e-sporculara yönelik özelleştirilmiş zihinsel antrenman programlarının geliştirilmesi ve sporun değişen doğasının anlaşılması açısından önemli çıkarımlar sunmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• E-spor
• Geleneksel Spor
• Performans
• Zihinsel Antrenma

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