Examining interpersonal emotion regulation strategies and moderating factors in ice hockey

The purpose of this study was to provide insights into the use of interpersonal emotion regulation in ice hockey. The following two research questions were examined: (a) what strategies are used in ice hockey to regulate teammates' emotions? And (b) what factors moderate interpersonal emotion regulation? Sixteen members of a professional British ice hockey team were interviewed. Content analysis indicated the use of both verbal and behavioural interpersonal emotion regulation strategies. Consistent with the 'Emotions As Social Information' (EASI) model (Van Kleef, 2009), players attempted to regulate the emotions of teammates through both inferential processing and affective reactions pathways. Further, the data illustrated how personal and relational characteristics can potentially moderate interpersonal emotion regulation. Data suggest the potential utility of interpersonal emotion regulation interventions in professional ice hockey.