Emotional intelligence in sport and exercise: A systematic review

Abstract

This review targets emotional intelligence (EI) in sport and physical activity. We systematically review the available literature and offer a sound theoretical integration of differing EI perspectives (the tripartite model of EI) before considering applied practice in the form of EI training. Our review identified 36 studies assessing EI in an athletic or physical activity context. EI has most often been conceptualized as a trait. In the context of sport performance, we found that EI relates to emotions, physiological stress responses, successful psychological skill usage, and more successful athletic performance. In the context of physical activity, we found that trait EI relates to physical activity levels and positive attitudes toward physical activity. There was a shortage of research into the EI of coaches, officials, and spectators, non-adult samples, and longitudinal and experimental methods. The tripartite model proposes that EI operates on three levels - knowledge, ability, and trait - and predicts an interplay between the different levels of EI. We present this framework as a promising alternative to trait and ability EI conceptualizations that can guide applied research and professional practice. Further research into EI training, measurement validation and cultural diversity is recommended.

Profiles of Emotional Intelligence and Their Relationship with Motivational and Well-being Factors in Physical Education

“…Other studies have reported moderate relationships between ability EI and satisfaction with life in both cross-sectional and prospective studies (Brackett, Rivers, Shiffman, Lerner, & Salovey 2006;Extremera, Ruiz-Aranda, Pineda-Galán, & Salguero, 2011). In the context of sport performance, the review of Laborde, Dosseville, and Allen (2016) found that trait EI relates to pleasant emotions, lower physiological stress responses, successful psychological skill usage, and more successful athletic performance. In addition, EI was associated with a higher level of physical activity (PA) and positive attitudes towards PA.…”

Is there a link between the volume of physical exercise and emotional intelligence (EQ)?

“…In a number of studies, higher EQ in athletes was associated with better performance in sports (Laborde, Dosseville, & Allen, 2015), including baseball (Zizzi, Deaner, & Hirschhorn, 2003), cricket (Crombie, Lombard, & Noakes, 2009), and hockey (Perlini & Halverson, 2006). At a personal level, a higher EQ was positively linked to the application of various psychological skills in sport, including imagery and self-talk (Lane, Thelwell, Lowther, & Devonport, 2009).…”

Émotions et régulation émotionnelle en contexte sportif interpersonnel ou intergroupe

“…Therefore, considering the influence of others offers new perspectives in the field of emotions in sport performance, physical education or exercise (Campo & Louvet, 2016). Recently, these questions highlighted the academics' interest in the field of sports psychology with emerging innovative concepts, such as interpersonal emotional regulation and communal coping (Campo et al, 2017;Friesen et al, 2013;Tamminen & Gaudreau, 2014;Tamminen et al, 2016), group emotions (Campo et al, 2018(Campo et al, , 2019a(Campo et al, , 2019bTamminen et al, 2016), and somewhat via that of emotional intelligence (Lane et al, 2009;Laborde et al, 2016).…”

“…Considérer ainsi l'influence d'autrui sur les émotions et leur régulation offre donc de nouvelles perspectives d'investigation et de compréhension du vécu des pratiquants sportifs, que ce soit dans le champ de la performance, de l'éducation physique ou encore des activités physiques adaptées et de la santé (Campo & Louvet, 2016). Récemment, ces questionnements ont fait l'objet d'un engouement scientifique sans précédent dans le domaine de la psychologie du sport avec des concepts novateurs émergeants, tels que la régulation émotionnelle interpersonnelle et le communal coping (Campo et al, 2017 ;Friesen et al, 2013 ;Tamminen & Gaudreau, 2014 ;Tamminen et al, 2016), les émotions de groupe (Campo et al, 2018(Campo et al, , 2019a(Campo et al, , 2019bTamminen et al, 2016), et l'approche hybride de l'intelligence émotionnelle (Lane et al, 2009 ;Laborde et al, 2016). L'objectif de ce numéro spécial est d'alimenter ces nouveaux questionnements.…”