Vol. 4, Issue 1, Part A (2022)

Team cohesion and emotional regulation are central to athletes’ psychological functioning and performance, yet limited evidence exists from training environments within the Indian context. This study examines and compares cohesion levels and emotion regulation patterns among athletes from Kangra and Dharamshala training centres to better understand how these factors interact within structured sport settings. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected through the Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), DERS-Short, and self-report measures of role clarity and perceived performance. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, independent samples t-tests, and multiple regression analyses were employed to explore relationships across variables. Results indicated high levels of task and social cohesion across athletes, alongside greater reliance on cognitive reappraisal than expressive suppression. Correlation findings showed generally weak associations among cohesion, emotion regulation, role clarity, and performance. Comparative analysis revealed no significant differences between athletes from the two centres across all variables. Regression models demonstrated that cohesion and emotion regulation explained minimal variance in perceived performance, while role clarity showed the strongest though still nonsignificant association with emotional dysregulation. These findings suggest that while athletes exhibit strong cohesion and adaptive regulatory tendencies, such factors alone do not substantially influence performance perceptions. The study highlights the importance of examining mediating mechanisms, contextual influences, and cultural factors that may shape these relationships. Future research should incorporate longitudinal designs, broader psychological constructs, and sport-specific variables to deepen understanding of athlete functioning within Indian training ecosystems