Motivation, Anxiety, and Emotional Intelligence Are Associated with the Practice of Contact and Non-Contact Sports: An Explanatory Model

Abstract

(1) Background: Several studies have shown that high anxiety impairs sport performance, making it important to develop strategies which improve the emotional self-regulation of athletes. The present study analyzed the relationship between emotional intelligence, motivational climate in sport, and anxiety according to participation in contact or non-contact sports, using multi-group structural equation modeling; (2) Methods: This research was conducted with a sample of 371 semi-professional athletes from Spain. The main variables were emotional intelligence, motivational climate in sport, and anxiety. A multi-group path analysis was developed and demonstrated acceptable fit (χ2 = 418.60; df = 46; p < 0.001; Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.959; Normalized Fit Index (NFI) = 0.955; Incremental Fit Index (IFI) = 0.959; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.063); (3) Results: A negative association was identified between task-oriented climate and ego-oriented climate. Moreover, there was a positive relationship between task-oriented climate and emotional intelligence, which was strongest in individuals participating in non-contact sports. The relationship between ego-oriented climate and emotional intelligence was less evident. Furthermore, both state anxiety and trait anxiety were negatively correlated with emotional intelligence; (4) Conclusions: The key conclusion from the present research is that task-oriented motivational climates positively influence levels of emotional intelligence and anxiety, especially in contact sports. It is important to encourage the development of self-determined motivational climates in order to avoid emotional states which can hinder performance.

Emotional Intelligence as a Predictor of Motivation, Anxiety and Leadership in Athletes

“…The same situation is found for the self-concept of athletes; we found a direct and positive relationship between self-concept and the levels of emotional intelligence [ 10 ]. As with motivation, studies showed that high levels of emotional intelligence have a continuous and existing correlation with self-concept [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”

Sports Motivation in Athletes in the Face of Psychosocial Risk and Pandemic Due to COVID 19

“…This wealth has allowed it to be treated as a multidimensional concept to be not limited or adjusted to a given plane. For instance, Castro-Sánchez et al [1] report that motivation is one of the most studied variables because it explains human behavior. In the context of recreational and professional physical activity, it provides an understanding of factors such as the choice of a sports modality, the persistence, performance, and intensity of a specific sports activity.…”

“…Of the motivation theories that stand out in sport psychology for their emphasis on social factors are the self-determination theory developed by Deci and Ryan in 1985 and the achievement goals theory formulated by Nicholls in 1989. These Proposals explain the training and competition situations towards success [1].…”

“…There are other proposals aimed at personal improvement, in which the perception of success or failure is a unique interpretation. In addition, other theories explain the search for pleasure, personal image, or social relationships when carrying out sports activities [1].…”

Facteurs de risque et de protection de l’anxiété de performance des élèves athlètes adolescents : une revue narrative

“…D'ailleurs, la résilience est un concept clé associé à une diminution de l'anxiété de performance, et ce en particulier dans le domaine sportif (Sarkar et Fletcher, 2014). De plus, un athlète intelligent émotionnellement a moins tendance à être anxieux face à la réalisation d'une performance (Castro-Sánchez et al, 2019). Ces athlètes sont alors en mesure d'identifier leurs émotions, de s'autoréguler et de bien gérer leurs relations avec autrui (Laborde et al, 2018).…”