Perfectionism in Sport, Dance, and Exercise

Perfect performance, flawlessness, and the perfect body are revered in sport, dance, and exercise. As such, sport, dance, and exercise provide ideal domains in which to study perfectionism. This chapter provides an overview of research that has examined multidimensional perfectionism in these domains. We place particular emphasis on the most recent research in this area and provide suggestions to guide future research. It will be argued that perfectionism is a complex characteristic with particular relevance in sport, dance, and exercise. In addition, in its various guises, perfectionism can be problematic, beneficial, and also ambivalent with regards to motivation, well-being, and performance. To better understand the effects of perfectionism in sport, dance, and exercise, we call for research that adopts longitudinal designs, examines moderating factors, develops and refines measurement tools, and focuses on the influence of perfectionism among exercisers

The 2 × 2 Model of Perfectionism and Negative Experiences in Youth Sport

Objectives: Research has found that the four subtypes of perfectionism from the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism (i.e., Non-perfectionism, Pure PSP, Pure ECP, and Mixed perfectionism) are associated with different youth sport experiences. Extending this research, the current study examined the 2 × 2 model in regard to undesirable outcomes indicative of negative experiences in youth sport: negative (and positive) affect, anxiety, antisocial (and prosocial) behavior, and intentions to dropout of sport. Design: A cross-sectional design was employed. Method: Two hundred and twenty-two youth sports participants (65 males, 157 females, M age = 13.51 years, SD = 1.53 years, range = 11 – 18 years) were recruited from a variety of school- and community-based sports and completed a multi-section questionnaire. Results: Regression analyses revealed that, for the most part, Pure ECP was associated with the most negative experiences (higher negative affect, anxiety, and intentions to dropout and lower positive affect) and Pure PSP was, typically, associated with the least negative experiences (lower negative affect, anxiety, antisocial behavior, and intentions to dropout and higher positive affect) in youth sport. One notable exception was antisocial behavior towards teammates and competitors for which Mixed perfectionism was most problematic. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the four subtypes of perfectionism can be distinguished based on their association with both negative and positive experiences in youth sport

Development and Initial Validation of the Perfect Performance Scale for Sport (PPS-S)

Valid and reliable instruments are required in order to study perfectionism appropriately. With this in mind, three studies will be presented that describe the development and initial validation of a new instrument designed to measure multidimensional performance perfectionism for use in sport (Perfect Performance Scale-Sport, PPS-S). The instrument is based on Hewitt and Flett’s (1991) model of perfectionism and includes self-oriented, socially prescribed, and other-oriented performance perfectionism. The new dimensions encapsulate the features of Hewitt and Flett’s dimensions but are focused on athletic performance, rather than life generally. The three studies outline item generation and refinement, exploratory, confirmatory and exploratory-confirmatory examination of factor structure, and initial assessment of construct validity. The findings of the three studies provide initial evidence for the reliability and validity of the PPS-S and suggest that the instrument is worthy of further scrutiny and validation

Perfectionism and Exercise Dependence: the Role of Basic Psychological Needs and Introjected Regulation

Using a self-determination theory (SDT) framework, the aims of our study were to examine the perfectionism-exercise dependence relationships, and whether basic psychological needs and introjected regulation explained these relationships. Distance runners (n = 260, M age: = 42.41 years; SD: = 11.95 years, n = 144 female) completed measures of multidimensional perfectionism (self-oriented perfectionism (SOP); socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP)), basic psychological need satisfaction and thwarting, introjected regulation, and exercise dependence. Bivariate correlations revealed significant positive SOP-exercise dependence and SPP-exercise dependence relationships. Structural equation modelling suggested that, in combination, perfectionism, basic psychological need satisfaction/thwarting and introjected regulation accounted for large amounts of variance in exercise dependence. Tests of indirect effects showed that the SPP-exercise dependence relationship was mediated by basic psychological need thwarting and introjected regulation. Our findings suggest that while the SOP-exercise dependence relationship is more direct, need thwarting and introjected regulation represent a motivational signature of SPP and exercise dependence

The 2 × 2 model of perfectionism and youth sport participation: A mixed-methods approach

ObjectivesResearch demonstrates that four subtypes of perfectionism from the 2 × 2 model are associated with different youth sport experiences. This study provided the first exploration of the experiences of youth sport participants exhibiting different subtypes of perfectionism using mixed-methods.DesignA two-stage, mixed-methods, approach was adopted (quantitative identification then qualitative data collection).MethodIn stage one (quantitative identification), 192 females enrolled in school- or community-based sport groups (M age = 13.91; SD = .90; range 12–16 years) completed a domain-specific perfectionism instrument (Sport-MPS-2) to identify participants prototypical of the four subtypes of perfectionism. In stage two (qualitative data collection), 19 prototypical participants (M age = 13.74; SD = .65; range 13–15 years) described their experiences of their youth sport involvement. One focus group (n = 4 to 5 per group) and one follow-up individual, semi-structured, interview (n = 4 in total) per subtype were conducted.ResultsThematic analysis revealed that the meaning youth sport participants gave to their sport involvement (i.e., goals, values, and purposes) and the features of the social-environment they perceived to be important differed between the four subtypes of perfectionism. For the “pure PSP” and “mixed perfectionism” subtypes, sport was a time to shine and experience success. For the “non-perfectionism” and “pure ECP” subtypes, sport was a place to make friends and belong. Participants from all four subtypes described the importance of the coach and peers, with some groups identifying different preferred roles for the coach in terms of type and amount of involvement.ConclusionsYouth sport participants exhibiting different subtypes of perfectionism vary in their experiences of youth sport. Practitioners working with young people in sport should consider these differences so to better understand and improve youth sport experiences

Perfectionism worksheets

A series of worksheets on perfectionism

Perfectionism and Training Distress in Junior Athletes: The Mediating Role of Coping Tendencies

Training distress occurs when athletes fail to cope with physiological and psychological stress and can be an early sign of overtraining syndrome. Recent research has found that perfectionism predicts increases in training distress in junior athletes over time. The current study provides the first empirical test of the possibility that coping tendencies mediate the perfectionism-training distress relationship. Adopting a cross-sectional design, 171 junior athletes (mean age = 18.1 years) completed self-report measures of perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, problem-focused coping, avoidant coping, and training distress. Structural equation modelling revealed that avoidant coping mediated the positive relationship between perfectionistic concerns and training distress, and mediated the negative relationship between perfectionistic strivings and training distress. Problem-focused coping did not mediate any relationships between dimensions of perfectionism and training distress. The findings suggest that the tendency to use coping strategies aimed at avoiding stress may partly explain the relationship between perfectionism and training distress but the tendency to use, or not use, problem-focussed coping does not