JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCE & MEDICINE |
Research article |
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND EMOTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH OPTIMAL AND DYSFUNCTIONAL ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE | |||||||||
Andrew M. Lane1, Tracey J. Devonport1, Istvan Soos2, Istvan Karsai3, Eva Leibinger4 and Pal Hamar4 | |||||||||
1University of Wolverhampton, UK, 2University of Sunderland, UK, 3University of Pecs, Institute for Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Hungary, 4Semmeilweis University, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Hungary | |||||||||
| |||||||||
© Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2010) 9, 388 - 392 | |||||||||
|
ABSTRACT | ||||||||||||
This study investigated relationships between self-report measures of emotional intelligence and memories of pre-competitive emotions before optimal and dysfunctional athletic performance. Participant-athletes (n = 284) completed a self-report measure of emotional intelligence and two measures of pre-competitive emotions; a) emotions experienced before an optimal performance, and b) emotions experienced before a dysfunctional performance. Consistent with theoretical predictions, repeated MANOVA results demonstrated pleasant emotions associated with optimal performance and unpleasant emotions associated with dysfunctional performance. Emotional intelligence correlated with pleasant emotions in both performances with individuals reporting low scores on the self-report emotional intelligence scale appearing to experience intense unpleasant emotions before dysfunctional performance. We suggest that future research should investigate relationships between emotional intelligence and emotion-regulation strategies used by athletes. Key words: Affect, emotion, stress-management, personality, effect regulation. |
|
INTRODUCTION | ||||||||||||
Research in general psychology has emphasized the utility of emotional intelligence (Austin et al., 2004; Petrides et al., 2007) and it is proposed to be a construct associated with adaptive psychological functioning (Kirk et al. , 2008). Defined as 'the ability to monitor one's own and others' feelings and emotion, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one's thinking and actions' (Salovey and Mayer, 1990, p. 189), measures of emotional intelligence associate with successful performance in a number of applied settings (Van Rooy and Viswesvaran, 2004) including sport (Zizzi et al., 2003). They also associate with a number of health-related variables, including minimizing the effects of stress (Schutte et al., 2007). |
|
METHODS | ||||||||||||
Participants Measures Emotion Procedure Data analysis |
|
RESULTS | |
In support of the first hypothesis regarding emotion-performance relationships, repeated measures MANOVA results show optimal performance was associated with significantly higher vigor, calmness and happiness scores coupled with low scores on the anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, and tension scales (Wilks Lambda 8,275 = .34, p < .001; Eta2 = .66, see Table 1). In support of the second hypothesis, correlation results show emotional intelligence correlated significantly with retrospective assessments of emotion in both performance conditions. EI correlated with emotions before optimal performance (r = .34, p < .001) and dysfunctional performance (r = .22, p < .001). The direction of the relationship shows that emotional intelligence correlates with pleasant emotions. |
DISCUSSION | ||||||||||||
The aim of the present study was to investigate relationships between emotional intelligence and memories of pre-competitive emotional states related to optimal and dysfunctional performance. In support of the first hypothesis, results show optimal performance associated significantly with higher scores on the vigor, happiness and calmness scales coupled with lower anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, and tension scores. The strength of emotion-performance relationships found in the present study is consistent with previous research using a retrospective approach (Devonport et al., 2005; Lane et al., 2009b), and stronger than when pre-competition emotions are assessed prospectively (Beedie et al., 2000). Hanin, 2003 argues that individuals can vividly recall the emotional experiences of optimal and dysfunctional performances using retrospective methods, possibly because people experience intense emotions in sport and the timeframe for these emotions is clearly demarcated. Ekman and Davidson, 1994 argue that people will tend to remember events where they experience intense emotions. |
|
AUTHORS BIOGRAPHY | |
Andrew M. LANE Employment: Professor in Sport and Exercise Psychology, School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure, University of Wolverhampton, UK. Degree: BA, PGCE, MSc, PhD. Research interests: Mood, emotion, measurement, coping, and performance. E-mail: A.M.Lane2@wlv.ac.uk | |
Tracey DEVONPORT Employment: Chartered and HPC registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist, School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure, University of Wolverhampton, UK. Degree: BSc, PGCE, MSc, Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology, PhD. Research interests: Stress appraisal and coping, emotion, and performance, particularly amongst young athletes. E-mail: T.Devonport@wlv.ac.uk | |
Istvan SOOS Employment: Senior Lecturer in Sport Sciences (Sport Psychology), Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sunderland, UK. Degree: BSc (Hons), MEd, MSc, PhD. Research interests: Mood, emotional intelligence and motivation in young elite performers. Physical activity and sedentary behaviours in relationship with health and obesity. E-mail: istvan.soos@sunderland.ac.uk | |
István KARSAI Employment: Research fellow at the University of Pécs, Institute of PE and Sport Sciences. Degree: University Doctorate. Research interests: Beside some psychological aspects of the human behaviour, the main interest is in swimming biomechanics and musclemechanics. E-mail: karsai@gamma.ttk.pte.hu | |
Eva LEIBINGER Employment: Assistant lecturer, Gymnastics, RG, Dance and Aerobics, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Semmelweis University Budapest, HU. Degree: diploma of PE teacher, adapted PE teacher, gymnastics coach, PhD. Research interests: Pedagogy, sport pedagogy. E-mail: leibinger@mail.hupe.hu | |
Pal HAMAR Employment: Associate professor, Head of Department of Gymnastics, RG, Dance and Aerobics, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Semmelweis University Budapest, HU. Degree: dr. univ. of PE, Ph.D. Pedagogy, dr. habil. of Pedagogy. Research interests: Pedagogy, Sport Pedagogy, Curriculum Theory. E-mail: hamar@mail.hupe.hu | |