Relationship between emotional intelligence and components of competitive state anxiety among south African female field-hockey players

Tinkler, Nicola, Kruger, Ankebe and Jooste, Julius (2021) Relationship between emotional intelligence and components of competitive state anxiety among south African female field-hockey players. South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation, 43 (3). pp. 87-100. ISSN 0379-9069

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Abstract

Emotional awareness and regulation are often associated with improved performance in sports, which raises the
question as to the role of emotional intelligence in athletes’ optimal performance states. This study determined the
relationship between emotional intelligence and components of competitive state anxiety levels among a sample of
senior-level South African female field-hockey players (n = 60, M age = 21.57, SD = 3.65). The Emotional Intelligence
Scale and the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 were used to collect the data. Descriptive analyses revealed an
above-average emotional intelligence and a low somatic/cognitive anxiety, with self-confidence being low to
moderate, among players. Direction of cognitive and somatic anxiety was perceived as neutral, while self-confidence
levels were perceived to be facilitative to performance. Pearson’s correlation analyses revealed positive associations
between players’ management of their own and others’ emotions, and self-confidence as well as a negative association
with cognitive anxiety. A positive association between total emotional intelligence and self-confidence was also
revealed with results from the simple linear regression analyses confirming the significant influence emotional
intelligence has on players’ competitive state anxiety experiences. Essentially, the utility of emotional intelligence
intervention in aid of controlling cognitive anxiety and improving and maintaining self-confidence is advocated in
coaching and sport psychology practice.

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