The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Self-Confidence: The Mediating Role of Emotional Intelligence: A Study in Elite Athletes

Aim: Emotional intelligence has been examined as a critical performance determinant in sports psychology. Besides, self-efficacy and self-confidence are seen as vital constructs to promote athlete performance. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of emotional intelligence between self-efficacy and self-confidence in team sports. Methods: Elite team athletes, including baseball, volleyball, and football, were recruited for the study group. Research data was collected with emotional intelligence inventory in sports questionnaire, general self-efficacy scale, and self-confidence scale. In addition, data were analyzed with mediation analysis. The model hypothesized, indicating that emotional intelligence was a mediator between self-efficacy and self-confidence. Results: The results showed that emotional intelligence had a mediator role between self-efficacy and self-confidence. Result revealed the positive effect of self-efficacy on self-confidence. Increasing self-efficacy provides team athletes with a high level of emotional intelligence, leading them to have increased self-confidence. Conclusion: This study provides significant evidence to expand our knowledge on the role of emotional intelligence in team sports, explaining how self-efficacy, emotional intelligence, and self-confidence are associated.