Relationship between emotional intelligence and coping strategies in junior athletes’ behavior during extreme competitive situations

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between emotional intelligence and coping strategies among 132 junior athletes during extreme competitive situations. Methods: Valid psychodiagnostic methodologies were employed, along with descriptive statistics, normality tests (Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Shapiro–Wilk), regression analysis, and statistical significance coefficients. Results: The study revealed a significant relationship between emotional intelligence and coping strategies in extreme competitive environments. Results highlighted the importance of emotional intelligence as a key factor in understanding and managing both personal and others’ emotions, contributing to psychological well-being. Junior athletes demonstrated moderate levels of interpersonal abilities, specifically in empathy (M = 9.23 ± .494; SD = 5.681) and understanding others’ emotions (M = 8.10 ± .561; SD = 6.449). Junior athletes’ intrapsychic skills are at a low level (“emotional awareness” (М = 10.32 ± .489; SD = 5.322); “self-motivation” (М = 5.95 ± .621; SD = 7.133); and “managing emotions” (М = 1.76 ± .705; SD = 8.097). Differences in the manifestation of junior athletes’ emotional intelligence were identified by gender. In particular, statistically significant differences were found on the following scales of emotional intelligence: “emotional awareness” (t = -1,95; p = .049; d = -.570), “managing emotions” (t = 2.392; p = .018; d = .699), and “empathy” (t = -2.356; p = .02; d = -.688). The preference for problem-oriented coping and avoidance-oriented coping in choosing the method for dealing with extreme situations was found. A regression model (F = 43.581; p = 000) for problem-oriented coping which accounts for more than 50.00% of the data variance (R2 = .505; p = .005) was determined. The model included such predictors as “recognizing others’ emotions” (β = .296; t = 3.463; p = .001), “self-motivation” (β = .306; t = 3.696; p = .000), and “emotional awareness” (β = .230; t = 2.845; p = .005). Statistically significant differences between junior female and male athletes were identified by “emotion-oriented coping” (t = -2.644; p = .009; d = -.772). Discussion and conclusions: The decisive role of the predictor “recognizing others’ emotions” in using “problem-oriented coping” was observed. “Self-motivation” and “emotional awareness” accompany this predictor. Research into the impact of regulatory characteristics of the individual as a factor of the effectiveness of coping strategies for managing stress in uncertain and difficult situations is deemed promising.