Investigation of Emotional Intelligence Levels and Mental Toughness Parameters in Bocce Athletes

Öz

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and mental resilience (MR) in bocce athletes competing at different league levels. Given the high cognitive, emotional, and attentional demands of precision-based sports, the study focused on how these psychological constructs are interrelated through selected demographic and sport-related variables. Method: A descriptive and correlational cross-sectional design was used. The sample consisted of 433 licensed bocce athletes (214 female, 219 male) competing in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd leagues in Turkey. Data were collected using the Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ) and the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale (SEIS). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analysis conducted using SPSS 25.0. Findings: The results revealed that emotional intelligence scores showed significant differences based on gender and sports experience (p < .05). Mental resilience levels showed significant differences according to league levels and years of playing sports. Furthermore, a positive and significant correlation was found between emotional intelligence and mental resilience, with higher emotional intelligence scores associated with higher levels of mental resilience. Conclusion: The findings indicate a significant relationship between emotional intelligence and mental resilience in competitive bocce athletes. These results highlight the importance of psychological characteristics in precision-based sports and contribute to understanding the psychological profiles associated with competitive performance.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Emotional Intelligence
• Mental Resilience
• Bocce Athletes

BOCCE SPORCULARINDA DUYGUSAL ZEKÂ VE ZİHİNSEL DAYANIKLILIK

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışma, farklı lig düzeylerinde yarışan bocce sporcularında duygusal zekâ (DZ) ile zihinsel dayanıklılık (ZD) arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Hassasiyet temelli sporların yüksek bilişsel, duygusal ve dikkat gereksinimleri göz önüne alındığında, çalışma bu psikolojik yapıların seçilmiş demografik ve sporla ilgili değişkenler üzerinden nasıl ilişkilendiğine odaklanmıştır. Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı ve ilişkisel kesitsel bir desen kullanılmıştır. Örneklem, Türkiye'de 1., 2. ve 3. liglerde yarışan 433 lisanslı bocce sporcusundan (214 kadın, 219 erkek) oluşmuştur. Veriler, Spor Zihinsel Dayanıklılık Envanteri (SMTQ) ve Schutte Duygusal Zekâ Ölçeği (SEIS) kullanılarak toplanmıştır. İstatistiksel analizler, SPSS 25.0 kullanılarak gerçekleştirilen betimleyici istatistikler, bağımsız örneklem t-testi, tek yönlü ANOVA ve Pearson korelasyon analizini içermektedir. Bulgular: Sonuçlar, duygusal zekâ puanlarının cinsiyet ve spor deneyimine göre anlamlı farklılık gösterdiğini ortaya koymuştur (p < .05). Zihinsel dayanıklılık düzeyleri ise lig seviyeleri ve spor yapma yıllarına göre anlamlı farklılık göstermiştir. Ayrıca, duygusal zekâ ile zihinsel dayanıklılık arasında pozitif ve anlamlı bir korelasyon bulunmuş, yüksek duygusal zekâ puanlarının daha yüksek zihinsel dayanıklılık düzeyleri ile ilişkili olduğu görülmüştür. Sonuç: Bulgular, rekabetçi bocce sporcularında duygusal zekâ ve zihinsel dayanıklılık arasında anlamlı bir ilişki olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu sonuçlar, hassasiyet temelli sporlarda psikolojik özelliklerin önemini vurgulamakta ve rekabetçi performansla ilişkili psikolojik profillerin anlaşılmasına katkı sağlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Duygusal zekâ
• zihinsel dayanıklılık
• bocce sporcuları

Kaynakça

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