Effects of Violence Reduction in Video Games for Esports Competitions on Policy Acceptance in Educational Institutions in Thailand

Abstract

This study employed a mixed-methods approach integrating quantitative and qualitative data. The objectives were to (1) examine perceptions of violence reduction in esports video games, (2) assess its impacts, (3) compare differences across demographic characteristics, and (4) propose policy recommendations for Thai educational institutions. The quantitative sample comprised 400 participants—200 upper secondary students and 200 undergraduates—from institutions offering esports programs, selected through simple random sampling. Qualitative data were obtained from in-depth interviews with three university lecturers as subject-matter experts. The findings indicated that (1) overall perceptions of violence reduction were moderate, with the highest scores in understanding violent content, while perceptions of actual reduction were low; (2) the overall impact was moderate, with positive effects in social and attitudinal dimensions, but the lowest in behavioral outcomes; (3) no significant gender differences were found overall, although some differences appeared in specific dimensions, and no significant differences were observed between education levels; and (4) policy recommendations emphasized age-appropriate content control systems based on international or local standards, clear institutional policies for game selection, teacher supervision, and training on psychological impacts to enhance emotional intelligence and support students’ ability to distinguish between virtual and real-world contexts sustainably.