A Qualitative Exploration of Need Frustration in Esports Participation

Self-determination theory is a prominent framework in human-computer interaction research on video games. It posits that satisfaction of basic psychological needs promotes player engagement and well-being, whereas need frustration is associated with maladaptive outcomes. Although recent studies have examined need frustration in video games, little is known about players’ experiences of need frustration in esports and its emotional consequences. This study explores the antecedents of need frustration in esports participation and the emotional responses to need-frustrating experiences. Findings indicate that need frustration is a common experience in esports participation and identify distinct antecedents of autonomy, relatedness, and competence frustration. Need-frustrating experiences elicit diverse emotional responses whose type and intensity vary across situations. Some antecedents appear to be embedded within the esports game system. Finally, the findings suggest that esports players may benefit from developing coping strategies to manage recurrent need-frustrating situations arising from the structural features of esports participation.