The concept of emotional intelligence is related to the recognition of our own emotions, their regulation and our state of mind. Additionally, it is increasingly relevant in society in general, and in the field of sport in particular. The aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between emotional intelligence and the theory of self-determination, specifically interpersonal relationships. For this purpose, sex was taken as a mediating variable, and a structural equation model was estimated through mediation. The sample was made up of a total of 165 active sportsmen and sportswomen who are studying undergraduate and master's degree courses related to physical activity and sport sciences. The results show that gender acts as a mediating variable between emotional intelligence and relationships with others, becoming a mediating variable of two previously unrelated variables. The implications of these results lead us to study both emotional intelligence and its importance in the field of sport, as well as the fact of paying attention to the differences that may exist in this case depending on gender.
Keywords: emotional intelligence; sex; student athletes.