The role of trait emotional intelligence in emotion regulation and performance under pressure

• Role of trait emotional intelligence in performance under pressure.
• The pressure manipulation (2nd part of the TSST) was successful.
• Main influence of trait EI on cortisol secretion.
• Performance under pressure was predicted by self-confidence and cortisol.

This study explored the role of trait emotional intelligence (EI) in emotion regulation and performance under pressure. Twenty-eight tennis players performed two series of 35 serves, separated by a pressure manipulation. Reaction to pressure was assessed using both subjective (self-report emotion questionnaire) and objective (cortisol secretion, tennis serve success) measures. The pressure manipulation was successful with observed increases in anxiety and decreases in self-confidence and tennis serve performance. Trait EI was found to predict cortisol secretion over state emotion measures. Performance under pressure was predicted by self-confidence and cortisol secretion, but not by trait EI. These findings provide some preliminary evidence that trait EI and cortisol secretion are important in athlete responses to pressure situations.