Sports Anxiety, Emotional Intelligence and Quality of Life among University Athletes

Abstract

Aim of the Study: The present study-was conducted to-investigate the relationship-between sports anxiety, emotional-intelligence and-quality of-life among university athletes.

Methodology: The sample comprised of 200 university athletes of males and females. Sports Anxiety Scale-2 (2006), Wong and=Law Emotional=Intelligence Scale (2002)-and Athlete Quality of Life Scale (2004) were used to measure sports anxiety, emotional intelligence and quality of life of university athletes.

Results: Results showed that sports anxiety negatively effects quality of-life and-emotional intelligence positively affects quality of life. Emotional intelligence significantly predicts quality of life and sports anxiety inversely predicts-quality-of life among university athletes. Emotional intelligence moderated the-relationship between-sports anxiety and-quality of-life. Athletes with higher emotional-intelligence being associated-with increased quality-of life and-decreased sports anxiety. A significant gender difference indicates that male athletes have-lower sports anxiety-and higher quality of-life as compared to female athletes. This study also indicates that non-significant differences were found between sports anxiety and emotional intelligence on individual and team sports. Results also showed that beginners/young athletes have higher sports anxiety as compared to professionals/adult athletes.

Conclusion: The findings of the study will serve as platform for improving the emotional intelligence in university athletes to better cope with sports anxiety and to improve quality of life.