SOCIAL ANALYSIS OF ESPORTS AND FACTORS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MILITARY SPORTS IN THAILAND
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Abstract
This study aims to 1) examine the social context and development approaches of the esports industry in Thailand, including military esports initiatives, and 2) analyze the factors that facilitate the development of military esports within the Royal Thai Armed Forces. A mixed-methods research design was employed, integrating qualitative data from in-depth interviews with three experts and quantitative data from a survey of 400 purposively selected participants, comprising military personnel and university students. The findings reveal that Thailand’s esports industry has experienced rapid growth in both economic and social dimensions, particularly among youth and military personnel. Esports have evolved beyond entertainment, serving as a platform for skill development relevant to military operations—such as decision-making under pressure, teamwork, and strategic planning. The analysis further indicates that the development of esports in the Thai military holds potential for enhancing psychological readiness and cognitive performance among personnel, especially when training activities simulate realistic combat scenarios. Additionally, the study identifies differences in participation based on gender and military rank. Male personnel are more likely to engage in military esports than female personnel, and commissioned officers play a more prominent role in promoting and developing esports activities within the military compared to non-commissioned officers. Future research should explore specific skill sets cultivated through military-oriented esports training, conduct cross-national comparisons of military esports development, and propose strategic frameworks to support the sustainable integration of esports within the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
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เนื้อหาและข้อมูลในบทความที่ลงตีพิมพ์ในวารสารวิทยาศาสตร์การกีฬาและนวัตกรรมสุขภาพ กลุ่มมหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏแห่งประเทศไทย ถือเป็นข้อคิดเห็นและความรับผิดชอบของผู้เขียนบทความโดยตรงซึ่งกองบรรณาธิการวารสาร ไม่จำเป็นต้องเห็นด้วย หรือร่วมรับผิดชอบใด ๆ
บทความ ข้อมูล เนื้อหา รูปภาพ ฯลฯ ที่ได้รับการตีพิมพ์ในวารสารวิทยาศาสตร์การกีฬาและนวัตกรรมสุขภาพ กลุ่มมหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏแห่งประเทศไทย ถือเป็นลิขสิทธิ์ของคณะวิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏศรีสะเกษ หากบุคคลหรือหน่วยงานใดต้องการนำทั้งหมดหรือส่วนหนึ่งส่วนใดไปเผยแพร่ต่อหรือเพื่อกระทำการใด จะต้องได้รับอนุญาตเป็นลายลักษณ์อักษรจากวารสารวิทยาศาสตร์การกีฬาและนวัตกรรมสุขภาพ กลุ่มมหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏแห่งประเทศไทย ก่อนเท่านั้น
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