Becoming a Healthy Player: Exploring Teen Esports Players' Perspectives on Mental Well-Being through Participatory Design

Teen participation in esports is rapidly expanding, raising concerns about how competitive gaming shapes adolescent mental well-being. Existing mental well-being initiatives often adopt adult-centered approaches that overlook teenagers’ lived realities. This study explores mental well-being from the perspective of teen esports players. Through nine participatory design sessions with 34 participants, including adolescent players, coaches, and program coordinators, we examined how teens conceptualize a “healthy player” and sustain mental well-being in gaming. Findings emphasize three key insights: (1) for teens, being “healthy” means winning together, where well-being is tied to collective outcomes and social responsibility; (2) most stressors stem from esports environments beyond their control, underscoring the need for emotional resilience; and (3) teens favor simple, everyday coping strategies, such as taking breaks, reframing losses, adjusting play environments, and drawing on peer encouragement, over formal programs. These patterns resonate with Cognitive Behavioral Theory, suggesting that cycles of thought, emotion, and behavior underpin resilience. We argue for youth-centered, culturally relevant mental well-being strategies and micro-interventions embedded in the daily practices of adolescent esports.