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

This study aimed to examine the parental support for the professional esports’ players and the aspiring professionals in their career decision-making. By comparing the professional esports players and aspiring professionals, the role of parental support in the career development of esports players was elucidated. The study comprised 13 professional esports players and 9 aspiring professionals. Participants completed a Japanese-translated version of the Career-Related Parent Support Scale, which measures four key areas of parental support: advice and learning opportunities, discussions about occupations, encouragement, and understanding concerns about future career paths. The results showed that professional players scored significantly lower than aspiring professionals on emotional support measures, such as “providing encouragement” and “understanding concerns about future career paths.” Conversely, no significant differences were found between the groups in practical support, such as “providing advice and learning opportunities to achieve career goals.” The findings suggest that professional players may have experienced lower levels of emotional support from their parents compared to aspiring professionals. However, parents of aspiring professionals showed a tendency to focus more on emotional support while lacking sufficient knowledge and skills for providing concrete career guidance. These results highlight the need for targeted interventions, including career education programs for parents, to enhance their ability to support the career development of esports players effectively. This could contribute to the continued growth of the esports industry and the career satisfaction of its players.