Cyberbullying and its Relationship to Emotional Intelligence Among Short Football Players
Cyberbullying and its Relationship to Emotional Intelligence Among Short Football Players

Summary/Abstract: Cyberbullying become a significant issue in modern sports environments, where athletes frequently interact on digital platforms. Athletes with distinctive physical characteristics, such as short stature, may experience online exclusion, ridicule, or psychological pressure, affecting their self-esteem and sporting identity. Emotional intelligence (EI) - the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions—is believed to protect athletes from engaging in or being affected by such negative online behaviors. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between cyberbullying and emotional intelligence among short-stature football players. It sought to determine whether higher levels of emotional intelligence are associated with lower involvement in cyberbullying behaviors within the sports context. A total of 120 male short-stature football players (mean age = 18.6 ± 2.4 years) participated voluntarily. Two instruments were developed and validated specifically for this population: the Cyberbullying Scale and the Emotional Intelligence Scale. Validity and reliability were confirmed using correlation analysis and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Data were collected via self-report questionnaires and analyzed through descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and linear regression to identify the direction and strength of relationships between variables. The findings revealed a significant negative correlation between emotional intelligence and cyberbullying (r = −0.42, p < .001). Players with higher levels of emotional intelligence reported lower engagement in cyberbullying behaviors. The sub-dimensions of emotional intelligence—particularly empathy and emotional regulation—showed the strongest inverse relationships with online aggression. Emotional intelligence plays a critical role in reducing cyberbullying behaviors among short-stature football players. These results highlight the importance of integrating emotional intelligence training into sports psychology programs and coaching practices. Strengthening athletes’ emotional and social competencies can promote healthier online interactions, enhance team cohesion, and support psychological well-being in sports settings. Research for further studies should replicate these findings across different sports and cultural contexts to improve generalization.

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