GENDER-BASED APPROACH TO THE IMPACT OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE ON LEARNED HELPLESSNESS: INSIGHTS FROM UNIVERSITY STUDENT-ATHLETES OF TEAM SPORTS

Abstract

Background: Emotional intelligence (EI) is increasingly recognized as a protective psychological resource that supports resilience, motivation, and well-being in athletes. Learned helplessness (LH), conversely, reflects a maladaptive belief system in which individuals perceive diminished control over outcomes. University athletes participating in team sports often encounter substantial academic and competitive pressures, making the interplay between EI and LH an important area for investigation. Despite growing interest in sports psychology, limited evidence exists regarding gender-specific pathways through which EI influences LH in athletic populations.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the gender-specific impact of emotional intelligence on learned helplessness among university student-athletes competing in team sports.

Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was employed using a sample of 400 university team-sport athletes, comprising 200 male athletes (M = 20.59, SD = 1.672) and 200 female athletes (M = 20.29, SD = 1.609), recruited from eight universities. Emotional intelligence was measured using the Brief Emotional Intelligence Scale (BEIS-10), while learned helplessness was assessed through the Learned Helplessness Scale (LHS-20). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed separately for male and female athletes to determine the predictive influence of EI components on LH. Ethical procedures, including informed consent and confidentiality assurances, were fully observed.

Results: Among male athletes, the regression model was significant, showing that higher regulation of own emotions (B = –0.68, SE = 0.34, p = .045) was associated with significantly lower LH, explaining 12.3% of the variance (R² = .123). Among female athletes, the model explained 22.0% of the variance (R² = .220), with both appraisal of own emotions (B = –0.57, SE = 0.25, p = .021) and utilization of emotions (B = –0.91, SE = 0.27, p < .001) significantly predicting lower LH.

Conclusion: The findings demonstrated distinct gender-specific pathways linking EI to LH in university athletes. Male athletes benefited primarily from emotion regulation skills, whereas female athletes gained advantage from self-appraisal and constructive emotional utilization. These insights highlight the importance of gender-sensitive psychological training programs aimed at enhancing emotional competencies among university team-sport athletes.