<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This research examines United Arab Emirates (UAE) university students’ electronic sports habits and motivations using the theory of uses and rewards and the motivation scale for sports consumption (MSSC). A deliberate sample of 172 participants was surveyed using an electronic questionnaire to give their perspectives on various electronic sports-related topics. Most respondents considered e-sports a serious sport and valued it as a social practice. They practiced e-sports for two to four hours daily, preferring multiplayer games, confirming the collective tendency. Live-streaming services have helped electronic sports to become mainstream. Considering the UAE’s enthusiasm, most respondents played e-sports professionally. Finally, indirect realization, aesthetics, and escapism motivated e-sports players. These findings shed light on the perspectives and experiences of UAE residents who participate in electronic sports and may be used to guide efforts to legitimize and mainstream the activity.</p>
</abstract>

This research examines United Arab Emirates (UAE) university students’ electronic sports habits and motivations using the theory of uses and rewards and the motivation scale for sports consumption (MSSC). A deliberate sample of 172 participants was surveyed using an electronic questionnaire to give their perspectives on various electronic sports-related topics. Most respondents considered e-sports a serious sport and valued it as a social practice. They practiced e-sports for two to four hours daily, preferring multiplayer games, confirming the collective tendency. Live-streaming services have helped electronic sports to become mainstream. Considering the UAE’s enthusiasm, most respondents played e-sports professionally. Finally, indirect realization, aesthetics, and escapism motivated e-sports players. These findings shed light on the perspectives and experiences of UAE residents who participate in electronic sports and may be used to guide efforts to legitimize and mainstream the activity.

The Social Practice of E-Sports in the United Arab Emirates: An Empirical Field Study on a Sample of University Students

Physical Culture and Sport. Studies and Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This research examines United Arab Emirates (UAE) university students’ electronic sports habits and motivations using the theory of uses and rewards and the...

The Social Practice of E-Sports in the United Arab Emirates: An Empirical Field Study on a Sample of University Students

Published Online: Jun 27, 2024

Page range: -

Received: Nov 29, 2023

Accepted: Apr 22, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pcssr-2024-0020

Keywords
social practice, e-sports, motivations, UAE, electronic sports

© 2024 Yahia Benlarbi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The Social Practice of E-Sports in the United Arab Emirates: An Empirical Field Study on a Sample of University Students

Published Online: Jun 27, 2024

Page range: -

Received: Nov 29, 2023

Accepted: Apr 22, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pcssr-2024-0020

Keywordssocial practice, e-sports, motivations, UAE, electronic sports

© 2024 Yahia Benlarbi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
social practice, e-sports, motivations, UAE, electronic sports