Sleep as a Recovery Factor in Amateur Counter-Strike 2 Players : examining the impact of sleep duration and sleep quality on cognitive and in-game performance

Abstract

This study examined how sleep duration and quality affect cognitive reaction time and gameplay performance in amateur players of Counter-Strike 2 (CS2). Ninety participants were initially targeted to account for an anticipated 10% attrition rate; however, only 73 players met the inclusion criteria and completed the study. The sample consisted primarily of male players, with an average age of approximately 23 years, reflecting the typical demographic profile of amateur esports communities. The study employed a cross-sectional correlational design. Participants recorded their sleep duration daily over two weeks, and sleep quality was assessed twice weekly using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Cognitive performance was measured through a digital version of the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT), which assessed participants’ reaction times. In-game performance metrics, including Kill-to-Death (K/D) ratio and shooting accuracy, were collected from participants’ CS2 weekly statistics.

Pearson correlation analysis revealed that longer sleep duration was strongly associated with faster reaction times, while poorer sleep quality was linked to slower cognitive responses. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that sleep duration significantly predicted shooting accuracy, but did not predict K/D ratio. This suggests that gameplay elements such as tactics, team coordination, and opponent skill may dilute the impact of individual cognitive readiness on K/D performance. Although sleep quality correlated with slower reaction time, it did not significantly predict gameplay outcomes when sleep duration was controlled. Overall, sleep duration emerged as a more critical factor than subjective sleep quality in supporting competitive performance.

The study recommends that amateur gamers consistently aim for 7–9 hours of sleep and adopt sleep hygiene practices as part of their training regimen. Notable limitations include reliance on self-reported sleep measures, lack of experimental control over gameplay environments, and the study’s cross-sectional design, which restricts causal inference. Despite these limitations, the findings reinforce the growing evidence that sleep, especially its duration, is a vital, low-cost recovery strategy in esports. In amateur competitive play, it can enhance accuracy, decision-making, and reaction speed.