The role of trait emotional intelligence in emotion regulation and performance under pressure

Sylvain Laborde, Franziska Lautenbach, Mark S. Allen, Cornelia Herbert, Silvia Achtzehn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

106 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study explored the role of trait emotional intelligence (EI) in emotion regulation and performance under pressure. 

Twenty-eight tennis players performed two series of 35 serves, separated by a pressure manipulation. Reaction to pressure was assessed using both subjective (self-report emotion questionnaire) and objective (cortisol secretion, tennis serve success) measures. 

The pressure manipulation was successful with observed increases in anxiety and decreases in self-confidence and tennis serve performance. Trait EI was found to predict cortisol secretion over state emotion measures. Performance under pressure was predicted by self-confidence and cortisol secretion, but not by trait EI. 

These findings provide some preliminary evidence that trait EI and cortisol secretion are important in athlete responses to pressure situations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)43-47
Number of pages5
JournalPersonality and Individual Differences
Volume57
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anxiety
  • Coping
  • Emotion
  • Hormones
  • Sport
  • Stress
  • Tennis
  • Trait and state

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The role of trait emotional intelligence in emotion regulation and performance under pressure'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this