2025, Vol. 12, Issue 5, Part J

The present study examines the sub-component of emotional competence, Adequate Expression and Control of Emotions (AEC), among athletes from four major sports disciplines: Track & Field, Volleyball, Football, and Basketball. Emotional competence, which includes awareness, regulation, and adaptive coping strategies, is a key factor influencing athletic performance, resilience, and interpersonal functioning. Beyond physical fitness and technical skills, the ability to recognize, express, and regulate emotions enables athletes to maintain focus, manage pressure, and perform consistently in competitive environments. A descriptive-comparative research design was adopted, involving 960 male athletes aged 18–25 years from collegiate programs and professional clubs in Kerala, India, all with a minimum of three years of competitive experience. Data were collected using the Emotional Competence Scale (Sharma & Bharadwaj, 1995), focusing on the AEC dimension. Responses were scored via a standardized procedure, converting Likert scale items to Z-scores and then to T-scores. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and post-hoc Tukey HSD tests were used to analyse differences across sports disciplines. Results indicated significant differences in AEC across sports (F = 13.11, p<0.001). Football athletes scored highest (M = 18.64, SD = 3.62), followed by Basketball (M = 18.33, SD = 3.65) and Track & Field (M = 18.02, SD = 3.72), while Volleyball athletes scored the lowest (M = 17.05, SD = 3.80). Post-hoc analysis revealed that Volleyball athletes’ AEC was significantly lower compared to Football, Basketball, and Track & Field athletes, whereas other group differences were not significant. These findings highlight that sport type—individual or team-based—affects emotional coping, with team dynamics and competitive demands shaping regulation skills. The study emphasizes the need for sport-specific psychological interventions, including emotion regulation training, stress management, and resilience-building programs, to enhance performance and overall well-being. Cultivating AEC is essential not only for competitive success but also for sustaining mental health, adaptive coping, and holistic development in athletes.