🧠 Journal Summary: Examination of the correlation between emotional intelligence and prosocial behavior

🧠 Journal Summary: Examination of the correlation between emotional intelligence and prosocial behavior of physical education and sports school students doing individual and team sports

Authors: Burcu Sıla Sezer, Varol Tutal

Published In: Acta Psychologica

🔍 Study Summary

This study investigated the connection between emotional intelligence levels and prosocial behavior among university students studying physical education and sports. It specifically looked at how these factors relate in students participating in either individual or team sports. Using a quantitative relational screening model, the research collected data from 542 university students in Turkey. The goal was to contribute to the limited existing literature on emotional intelligence and prosocial behavior within a sports context.

💡 Key Concepts

• Emotional Intelligence: This refers to an individual’s ability to recognize and understand their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. In sports, it’s considered vital for athletes to manage their emotional states effectively before, during, and after competitions. The study assessed emotional intelligence using the “Revised Schutte Scale,” which includes dimensions like Optimism/Mood Regulation, Use of Emotions, and Evaluation of Emotions.
• Prosocial Behavior (Positive Social Behavior): Defined as situations where individuals intentionally and actively help others. In the realm of sports, this concept aligns with athletes displaying positive, moral behaviors, such as fair play. The “Positive Social Behavior Scale” was used to measure this, encompassing sub-dimensions like Public, Emotional, Altruistic, Obedient, Anonymous, and Emergency Positive Social Behavior.
• Individual and Team Sports: The study differentiated between individual sports, where responsibility rests solely on the individual, and team sports, which are group activities aimed at outperforming an opposing team. The research explored how these different sport types might influence emotional intelligence and prosocial behavior.

📊 Key Insights

• Significant gender-based differences were observed in the “use of emotions” and “optimism/mood regulation” sub-dimensions of emotional intelligence.
• Female individual athletes demonstrated higher levels in the “use of emotions” sub-dimension compared to males.
• Among team athletes, females exhibited higher levels in “use of emotions,” “emotion evaluation,” “optimism/mood regulation,” and overall emotional intelligence than their male counterparts.
• Gender also led to significant differences across several positive social behavior sub-dimensions, including public, anonymous, immediate, emotional, and obedient positive social behavior, as well as the total scale.
• A notable difference in “obedient good social conduct” was found across various sports types.
• Overall, the study concluded that there are positive, moderately significant associations between emotional intelligence and prosocial behavior traits. This indicates that enhancing university students’ emotional intelligence has a beneficial impact on their positive social behaviors.

📘 Example Application

A university’s athletic department could design and integrate emotional intelligence modules into their existing training programs for student-athletes. For example, interactive workshops could teach athletes how to better manage their stress before a big game (optimism/mood regulation), effectively communicate their feelings to teammates (use of emotions), and empathize with opponents or officials (evaluation of emotions).

By fostering these emotional skills, athletes would not only improve their performance by enhancing teamwork and reducing conflicts but also develop stronger prosocial tendencies, such as offering support to a struggling opponent or demonstrating good sportsmanship even in defeat. This proactive approach would equip them to be more compassionate and socially responsible individuals, both on and off the field.

💬 Comment from Dr. Dwi Suryanto

This study provides compelling evidence that emotional intelligence is not just a soft skill but a critical factor influencing how individuals interact positively with others, especially in dynamic environments like sports.

The findings are particularly relevant for educational institutions, suggesting that cultivating emotional intelligence among students can lead to more empathetic and supportive social behaviors. This is vital for nurturing well-rounded individuals who contribute positively to their communities and future professions, extending beyond just their athletic or academic achievements.

📌 Takeaway

Improving emotional intelligence in university students, particularly those engaged in sports, is significantly associated with fostering positive social behaviors and can contribute to a more harmonious and ethical environment in both athletic and broader social contexts.