Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Multidisciplinary Science Journal, cilt.8, sa.10, 2026 (Scopus)
As electronic sports (e-sports) have rapidly expanded worldwide, concerns regarding the physical and mental demands placed on players have become increasingly relevant. Understanding fatigue in this context is important for evaluating both performance and health-related outcomes. This study examined perceived physical and cognitive fatigue levels among e-athletes in Erzurum, Türkiye, considering demographic and sport-related factors. A total of 205 participants (127 males, 78 females) were recruited through a convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a demographic information form and the Perceived Physical and Cognitive Fatigue Scale (PPCFS). Statistical analyses included independent samples t tests for gender, education level, and type of e-sport, as well as one-way ANOVA for age and athletic experience. Normality was confirmed through skewness and kurtosis values. The findings indicated significant differences in perceived fatigue based on age and athletic experience. Older participants (≥23 years) reported higher levels of physical fatigue than younger participants, and those with longer athletic experience (7–9 years) scored higher on both physical and cognitive fatigue compared with athletes with moderate experience (4–6 years). No significant differences were found regarding gender, education level, or type of e-sport. In summary, the results show that age and accumulated years of experience are associated with greater perceptions of fatigue in e-athletes, whereas other demographic variables appear unrelated to fatigue levels. These findings contribute significantly to the growing body of literature on e-sports by providing region-specific evidence regarding the acute physiological and mental toll and may serve as a reference for future research investigating fatigue patterns in competitive gaming populations.