Document Type : Research Paper
Abstract
This study deals with the relationship between emotional intelligence, body image and eating disorders among team and individual athletes. The study population of this research consists of male athletes of wrestling, Karate, Taekwondo, Handball, Volleyball and Basketball with the experience of participating in provincial championships. The sample includes 40 wrestlers, 24 taekwondo players, 37 karatekas, 26 handball players, 48 volleyball players and 33 basketball players. 101 of these 208 elite athletes are team athletes and 107 are individual athletes. Athletes were asked to fill up three questionnaires of Garner and Gafynkl eating disorders, Mendelssohn body image and Shathe emotional intelligence. The analysis results show a direct relationship between emotional intelligence and body image (p<0.05). Significant differences were found for athletes in both individual and team disciplines in both Emotional Intelligence and body image (p<0.05). There was an inverse relationship between emotional intelligence and eating disorders. The results of this research suggest that instructors of different disciplines and sports psychologists should consider emotional intelligence as a good approach toward dealing with eating disorders. They will enhance effective coping strategies to overcome eating disorders via introduction of the conceptual understanding of emotional intelligence power.
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