Applied sport psychology in esports: A scoping review of intervention strategies

Abstract

The growing professionalization of esports has increased interest in psychological interventions to support player performance and well-being. However, the extent and nature of published intervention research remain unclear. A scoping review approach was selected due to the small, heterogeneous, and methodologically diverse evidence base, which precludes effectiveness synthesis. Therefore, this scoping review mapped how psychological interventions have been described, delivered, and evaluated in esports research, and identified gaps to inform future work. Guided by PRISMA-ScR, seven studies published between 2022 and 2025 were identified. Studies primarily involved players of League of Legends and Counter-Strike, with substantial variability in participant characteristics, intervention formats, and outcome measures. Interventions were delivered online and in person, including acceptance-based strategies, coping effectiveness training, arousal reappraisal, and team-focused workshops. Assessment approaches included self-report measures, practitioner reflections, and performance-related indicators. Findings highlight that intervention research in esports remains exploratory, with limited consistency in reporting and evaluation. For coaches and applied practitioners, this review clarifies which psychological strategies have been studied in esports to date, highlights important contextual considerations for intervention delivery, and underscores the need for context-sensitive implementation, transparent documentation, and ongoing evaluation when providing psychological support in esports environments.