The awarded work, titled “Direct and Indirect Effects of Youth Sports Participation on Emotional Intelligence, Self-Esteem, and Life Satisfaction”, was developed by researchers Miguel Fernandes, Pedro Esteves, and Teresa Fonseca, from SPRINT – Sport, Physical Activity and Health Research & Innovation Center, in collaboration with Aristides Rodrigues, from the University of Coimbra. The International Scientific Committee of “Sports” granted it the award for the best scientific paper published.
The rector of UPG, Joaquim Brigas, highlighted that the international distinction “constitutes further recognition of the quality of scientific work developed by the lecturers and researchers of the Polytechnic University of Guarda”. According to Brigas, the award reflects “the importance of the link between research and teaching”, contributing to the qualification of future sports professionals and reinforcing UPG's “scientific capacity”.
The study analyzed the mediating effects of emotional intelligence and self-esteem on young people's sports participation and their life satisfaction, comparing the effects of different types of sports involvement – team, individual, and non-participation. The results indicate that sports activity increases life satisfaction.
“The results obtained by our study provide new perspectives on the potential emotional and psychological mechanisms underlying the association between youth sports participation and life satisfaction,” stated Miguel Fernandes, a lecturer and researcher at UPG and the main person responsible for the study. “This international recognition reinforces the relevance of the work we have been developing in the field of sports sciences, particularly regarding the role of sport in the emotional and psychological development of young people”.
The sample included 1053 Portuguese adolescents (612 girls and 441 boys), aged between 12 and 18 years. Self-assessment, self-report, and emotional intelligence perception instruments were used, along with the “Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale” and the “Satisfaction with Life Scale”. The conclusions indicate that participation in organized youth sports contributes to the development of specific dimensions of emotional intelligence, which in turn lead to higher levels of self-esteem and life satisfaction.
The work suggests that coaches and researchers implement emotional education programs in the context of youth sports to foster emotional and psychological well-being, including new psychological training techniques such as coping and emotional regulation skills. SPRINT aims to develop applied research, scientific training, and create opportunities for scientific employment, bringing together 86 doctoral researchers and over 70 collaborating members.
