Frontiers in Psychology (Oct 2023)

The relationship between emotional intelligence, anxiety, and performance in physical education and sport students

  • Wael Zoghlami,
  • Aymen Hawani,
  • Aymen Hawani,
  • Hyem Khiari,
  • Sofiene Mnedla,
  • Santo Marsigliante,
  • Ali Elloumi,
  • Antonella Muscella

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1236070
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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Emotional intelligence (EI) has been recently the main target in research on sports psychology. The objectives of this study were to investigate the relation between self-report measures of emotional intelligence, pre-competitive anxiety, and performance among students during the physical education exam of the high school final year. This cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 350 students attending the physical education exam in the year 2021–2022. Analysis of the correlations between the scores of Emotional intelligence and anxiety showed that self-confidence was positively correlated with all dimensions of Emotional intelligence (Beta = 0.524; p = 0.000). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the most related items to performance were self-confidence in a positive direction (r = 0.56; p = 0.000) and negatively with somatic anxiety (r = −0, 39; p = 0.000). Considering the Emotional intelligence subscales, hetero-emotional management was significantly positively associated with performance (p = 0.000) however emotional perception was negatively correlated with performance (p = 0.003). These results demonstrate the importance of social and emotional learning programs for improving self-confidence and better management of emotions during physical education and sports.

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