Effects of emotional regulation and impulsivity on sports performance: the mediating role of gender and competition level

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to study the relationships between emotional regulation and impulsivity on sports performance, according to the gender and competition level in national-level volleyball players. METHODS: In total, 77 players from the 2018–2019 top two Spanish divisions completed the ERQ (emotion regulation) and the UPPS-P (impulsivity). Statistics (serve, reception, and attack) were retrieved from the Spanish Volleyball Federation. A Mann–Whitney test was conducted to determine differences between gender and competition level in impulsivity and emotion regulation. A Kruskal–Wallis test (Mann–Whitney post-hoc) was carried out for playing positions analysis. Spearman's correlation was performed between the performance and the variables of impulsivity and emotional regulation. RESULTS: The results obtained, with differences according to playing position, gender, and competition level, show that players differ in certain psychological aspects that might influence how they approach their game. DISCUSSION: The results point in a promising direction: the sports practice analyzed can serve as a regulation context, for both the emotional response and the level of impulsivity of the players. The importance of these results for future research on this topic is discussed.