Author(s): Charles A Joseph and Kunjikannan R

Abstract:
The present study investigates the Ability to Cope with Problem Emotions (ACPE) among athletes across four major sports disciplines: Track & Field, Volleyball, Football, and Basketball. Emotional competence, encompassing awareness, regulation, and adaptive coping with emotions, is a critical psychological skill that influences athletic performance, mental resilience, and interpersonal dynamics within teams. While physical fitness, skill development, and technical training are essential for athletic success, the effective management of problem emotions such as anxiety, anger, and frustration plays a pivotal role in sustaining performance consistency and maintaining mental well-being. This study adopts a descriptive-comparative research design involving 960 athletes, with participants selected based on active competitive involvement in their respective sports and availability during the study period. Emotional competence was measured using the Emotional Competence Scale through a standardized scoring procedure converting raw scores. Data collection was conducted personally by the investigator during training sessions, ensuring confidentiality, participant understanding, and accuracy of responses. Descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation, were calculated for each sports group, One-way ANOVA analysis indicated a statistically significant difference in ACPE across the sports groups suggesting that sport type has a measurable effect on athletes’ emotional coping abilities. The findings demonstrate that individual sports, such as Track & Field, may promote greater emotional resilience due to personal self-regulation demands, whereas team sports require collective emotional management, exposing athletes to higher situational stress. The study underscores the importance of integrating sport-specific psychological interventions, including emotional regulation, stress management, and resilience-building strategies, alongside physical and technical training. These interventions can enhance athletes’ performance, mental well-being, and overall career longevity. The results provide valuable insights for coaches, trainers, and sports psychologists aiming to develop tailored programs that strengthen emotional competence and optimize performance across diverse sports disciplines, ensuring holistic athlete development.

Pages: 174-177  |  291 Views  28 Downloads