Trait emotional intelligence in competitive sports: are there differences in dimensions of emotional intelligence when comparing different sports?

Emotional intelligence (EI) is a determinant of athletic performance. Since each sport has its own psychological requirements, individual EI dimensions could have different relevance for athletic performance. This study investigated EI variations among athletes participating in 48 different sports, considering the specific emotional challenges faced by athletes in competitive sports using the appraisal theory of emotions. A total of 605 athletes (44.3% female) actively engaged in competitive sports completed the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire via an online survey. Analyses of variance, controlling for age and gender, revealed no overall link between EI and different sports. However, the dimension of self-control within EI demonstrated significant relevance among athletes in contact sports, sports with a higher degree of control over environmental conditions, and sports with direct referee intervention. On the other hand, the dimension of well-being within EI exhibited significant relevance for athletes in individual sports. Thus, this study suggests that investigating appraisal processes in athletes’ emotional experiences, particularly focusing on the self-control dimension of EI, useful for future research in the field of EI.