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Better Gyms and Leisure surveyed more than 2,000 people, including over 1,000 gamers in the UK. They were asked about the benefits of playing games and what they thought a gamer was.
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95% of people underestimate the physical activities and training regimens of professional gamers.
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86% of UK citizens don’t believe eSports athletes are entitled to the same respect and recognition as traditional athletes.
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The difference between gamers and non-gamers is only 12 minutes per night.
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Over a third say that their attention has increased since they started gaming.
Copper Box Arena in Queen Elizabeth Park, East London, celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. It is quickly becoming the UK’s home for eSports, and a recent study revealed the varied image of gamers, eSports professionals, and the positive effects of gaming.
Better, the operators of Copper Box Arena, conducted research that found 96% of gamers reported positive impacts on their daily lives. These benefits included improvements in their attention span (33%), relief from stress (50%), an escapism sense (48%), and better mental health (30%). Copper Box Arena provides a platform that allows gamers to temporarily escape from the stress of the real-world and connect with other players online.
Copper Box Arena attracts eSports enthusiasts from around the globe. Stuart Hutchison is the General Manager of Copper Box Arena and he said, “We are immensely proud to have been part of the emergence eSports.” Copper Box Arena has become the UK’s home of eSports after hosting major tournaments like League of Legends and Apex Legends as well as the Call of Duty: Warzone Global Series finals this year.
86% of UK citizens don’t believe eSports athletes are entitled to the same respect and recognition as traditional athletes.
The study found that despite the rapid growth of the gaming industry and the obvious benefits of gaming, there was still a long way to go in convincing non-gamers. Many misconceptions about gaming are still prevalent.
Almost 86% of UK respondents do not think that eSports players deserve the same respect and recognition as traditional athletes. Only one fifth of respondents viewed eSports in the same way as traditional sports such as football and rugby. Nearly nine out of ten Brits are unwilling to accept eSports in the Olympics.
Over half (54%) of UK residents believe that gaming can lead to social isolation and 3/10 feel it will encourage poor mental health. While our research showed that gamers spent more time outdoors than non-gamers did, Brits still think gaming will lead to poor health (58%), a bad lifestyle (47%), or a poor diet (42%) despite the fact they spend more time outside.
There is a glimmer for eSports fans, however, as a quarter believe that eSports will reach the same level of popular as traditional sports. This indicates a potential growth in the industry.
Nathan David, Head of Foundation, College of eSports, which offers innovative, practice-focused degrees across a variety of international eSports businesses, commented on the comparison: “If you talk to any performance athletes, they’ll tell you that despite physical aspects of sport, mental and psychological elements are equally important. Dealing with stress and performing well under pressure are often referred.
I think that eSports will be perceived differently in 5-10 years as misconceptions are addressed and our industry better understood.
The difference between gamers and non-gamers is only 12 minutes per night.
Long-standing stereotypes of gamers as sedentary, isolated individuals who spend their days glued to their screens persist. The research shows that gamers spend more time outside on average each day than do non-gamers. Over half of Brits (56%) believe that gaming can lead to a lack in sleep. Non-gamers sleep an average of six hours and sixteen minutes per night compared with gamers who get six hours and half. This is a difference of only 12 minutes.
Nathan David stated: “We always encourage a balanced, healthy lifestyle, which includes your well-being socially, mentally and physically. While it’s true that most gaming is sedentary in nature, you can still maintain a healthy mental and physical state despite playing video games. “Good sleep/recovery and a balanced diet are essential for all types of life. This includes esports or gamers.”
