Examining the dimensional structure and factorial validity of the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory in a sample of male athletes

Objectives: Research examining how emotional intelligence (EI) relates to the performance of athletes has been conducted using various EI measures including the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i; Bar-On, 1997), but no one has investigated the factor structure of the EQ-i in the area of sport psychology. The current study explored the dimensional structure and factorial validity of the EQ-i in a sample of male athletes. Design: Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine Bar-On’s (1997, 2004) model of emotionale social intelligence and the 1-5-15 dimensional structure which underpins the EQ-i. Method: A total sample of 706 male athletes from various sports and competing at the national age group level through to the professional level of competition completed the EQ-i. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated that the 1-5-15 dimensional structure was a poor fit for the data. A re-specification of the model representing the best fit for the data was a 1-4-15 dimensional structure. The factorial validity of the individual subscales was also examined at the item level using confirmatory factor analysis. Thirteen of the 15 subscales showed close, reasonably good, or mediocre fit for the data. Conclusion: Further construct validation of Bar-On’s model and measure is required. Sport psychologists administering the EQ-i in applied practice should consider using the EQ-i subscales rather than referring back to the 1-5-15 dimensional structure. 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. A small number of researchers have presented reasonable rationale and evidence for the construct of emotional intelligence (EI) in sport. How EI is relevant to performance in sport was initially presented by Meyer and Fletcher (2007). More recently, Stanimirovic and Hanrahan (2010) suggested the potential for EI measures to predict criteria important to professional sport. The relationship between EI and the performance of athletes has been empirically tested in a sample of male professional cricket players (Crombie, Lombard, & Noakes, 2009) and male professional hockey players (Perlini & Halverson, 2006). The results provided preliminary support for the use of EI in professional sport samples as both a positive and negative predictor of performance outcomes specific to the sport. The evidence for the EIeperformance relationship in collegiate baseball was not significant (Zizzi, Deaner, & Hirschhorn, 2003). A recent intervention study conducted by Crombie, Lombard, and Noakes (2011) showed how EI can be enhanced in a sample of elite cricketers with systematic training and development compared to a control group. If EI measures are to be used in applied research and professional practice with athletes and potentially coaches, independent studies to evaluate the psychometric rigour of EI measures in sport are necessary. Measures used to test the EIeperformance relationship in sport included the EI Scale (EIS; Schutte et al., 1998), MayereSaloveyeCaruso EI Test Version 2 (MSCEIT; Mayer, Salovey, & Caruso, 2002), and the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i; Bar-On,1997). To date, the only psychometric investigation of any EI measure in sport was conducted by Lane et al. (2009) using the EI Scale. The current study explored the dimensional structure and factorial validity of the EQ-i (Bar-On, 1997) in a sample of male athletes. The EQ-i was developed by Bar-On (1997) to better understand and facilitate psychological wellbeing and is based on the model of emotionalesocial intelligence (Bar-On, 2006). The model is theoretically linked to Darwinian concepts that recognise the importance of emotional expression for survival and adaptation. Ultimately, being emotionally and socially intelligent means to * Corresponding author. Mental Edge Consulting, Suite G 07, 175 Sturt St, Southbank, VIC 3006, Australia. E-mail address: [email protected] (R. Stanimirovic).