The effect of social support on sports performance in high-level collegiate volleyball athletes: the chain mediating effect of emotional intelligence and athletic engagement

Aim This study targeted elite collegiate volleyball athletes to examine the current status of their perceived social support, emotional intelligence, and sport engagement, and to explore the relationship between social support and athletic performance. Specifically, it tested the chain mediating effects of emotional intelligence and sport engagement in the relationship between social support and athletic performance. Methods The Social Support Scale for Elite Collegiate Volleyball Athletes, the Emotional Intelligence Scale for Elite Collegiate Volleyball Athletes, and the Sport Engagement Scale for Elite Collegiate Volleyball Athletes were administered. Using a combination of online and offline surveys, questionnaires were distributed to athletes from 39 teams participating in the 2024–2025 Chinese University Volleyball League (Elite Division). Results (1) Social support was significantly positively correlated with athletic performance (r = 0.767, p < 0.01); emotional intelligence was significantly positively correlated with athletic performance (r = 0.783, p < 0.01); and sport engagement was significantly positively correlated with athletic performance (r = 0.765, p < 0.01). All sub-dimensions of the variables were significantly positively correlated with athletic performance ( p < 0.01), among which emotional intelligence showed the strongest correlation.(2) Social support was significantly positively correlated with emotional intelligence (r = 0.872, p < 0.01); social support was significantly positively correlated with sport engagement (r = 0.841, p < 0.01); and emotional intelligence was significantly positively correlated with sport engagement (r = 0.867, p < 0.01).(3) In the overall sample, emotional intelligence played a significant mediating role between social support and athletic performance (effect = 0.414, accounting for 54.415% of the total effect), and sport engagement also played a significant mediating role (effect = 0.344, accounting for 44.796% of the total effect).(4) Emotional intelligence and sport engagement jointly formed a significant chain mediating pathway between social support and athletic performance, namely: social support→emotional intelligence→sport engagement→athletic performance (effect = 0.126, accounting for 16.43% of the total effect, p < 0.01). This chain mediation effect was stronger and more stable among female athletes (female effect = 0.133, 15.983% of total effect) than among male athletes (male effect = 0.120, 14.652% of total effect). Conclusion High-level college volleyball athletes receive certain social support and perform well in emotional intelligence and athletic engagement. There are age differences in social support, emotional intelligence, and athletic engagement. Social support, emotional intelligence, athletic engagement and their sub-dimensions are positively correlated with sports performance, among which emotional intelligence shows the strongest correlation. In addition, the three variables are positively correlated with each other. Emotional intelligence and athletic engagement each play a significant mediating role between social support and sports performance, and a chain mediating effect exists. The chain mediating effect is stronger and more stable in females than in males.