Game Streamers’ Practices on Twitch and Management of Well-Being

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Valerie Yu

Nanyang Technological University (Correspondence: valeriej001@e.ntu.edu.sg)

Katrina Paola Bañas Alvarez

Nanyang Technological University

Vivian Hsueh Hua Chen

Nanyang Technological University

Citation: Yu, V., Alvarez, K. P. B., & Chen, V. H. H. (2021). Game streamers’ practices on Twitch and management of well-being. Journal of Communication Technology, 4(1), 54-77. https://doi.org/10.51548/joctec-2021-004

Abstract: There has been a noticeable increase in coverage and academic research on the physical and psychological well-being of game streamers. Existing studies have identified challenges and possible negative effects to streamers’ well-being, and they have also explored how streamers utilize the technological features of streaming platforms in their streaming practices. However, scant research has investigated the links between the use of platform features and the management of well-being issues. This study examined how streamers use technological features, the negative well-being issues of streamers, and their coping strategies for these issues. Based on a qualitative content analysis of 23 hours of video interviews with 23 different game streamers discussing well-being issues related to streaming, findings indicate that challenges to well-being arise from prioritizing different outcomes in their streaming practices, and it is game streamers’ resilience and self-aware platform feature use that enables them to face these challenges.

Keywords: game streamers, well-being, Twitch, live streaming, gaming culture