What does the Sport Emotion Questionnaire Measure in Terms of Core Affect?

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to use the dimensional approach to understand what an emotion questionnaire based on the basic emotion perspective, such as the SEQ (Sport Emotion Questionnaire), measures in terms of core affect. Therefore, 51 athletes (Mage = 19.73; S.D. = 1.69) rated the underlying affective dimensions (valence, arousal and time perspective) of the 22 emotion concepts used as items in the SEQ. The analyses of variance and paired samples post-hoc comparisons revealed that each scales' items measure similar core affects and that most scale's underlying core affects are different one from another. Only the excitement and happiness scales were not clearly distinct in terms of core affect. Overall, the results forwarded theoretical validation of the SEQ and exemplified the utility of dimensional models of core affect and emotion concepts as a theoretical framework for the measurement of emotions in research. Based on the study, it is suggested that conciliating the basic emotion and dimensional approach will enhance the knowledge about sport emotions, their antecedents and consequences.