The Relationship between Career Decision-Making and Parental Support in Esports Players

This study compares parental career-related support received by professional esports players (13 participants, PPG) with that received by aspiring professionals (9 participants, APG), all recruited in Japan and aged 16 or older. Using the Japanese-translated Career-Related Parent Support Scale across 27 items in four categories, the authors found no significant difference in total scores, but PPG participants scored significantly lower on verbal encouragement and emotional support, while instrumental support (instrumental assistance and career-related modeling) showed no meaningful group difference. The central conclusion is that parents of aspiring players provide more emotional than instrumental support, and that more structured support could strengthen players' career self-efficacy.

The statistical approach involved Shapiro-Wilk normality testing, followed by independent t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests and Cohen's d effect sizes, with significance set at 5%. Notably, the groups differed significantly in age and mothers' age, which constrains interpretation, and the small sample limits statistical power. The authors attribute the pattern to rising social recognition of esports and to players' development of self-efficacy through ranking systems and online community engagement rather than parental input alone.

The study is cross-sectional and relies on self-report, so causal claims are not supported, and findings may not generalize beyond Japanese participants. The authors call for longitudinal research, broader cultural samples, and investigation of the roles played by teams, communities, and social media in supporting esports careers.