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An examination of perfectionism and self-esteem in intercollegiate athletes

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John Gotwals at Lakehead University Thunder Bay Campus
John Gotwals
John G. H. Dunn at University of Alberta
John G. H. Dunn
Heidi A. Wayment at Northern Arizona University
Heidi A. Wayment
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Abstract

The contemporary view of perfectionism is that it is a multidimensional construct (e.g., Frost, Marten, Lahart, & Rosenblate, 1990; Hewitt & Flett, 1991), and that the dimensions comprising perfectionism can have either adaptive or maladaptive influences upon cognition, affect, and behavior. Research in non-sport settings has consistently shown that maladaptive perfectionism is associated with lower levels of self-esteem. However, to date, no studies have examined the relationship between perfectionism and self-esteem in sport. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perfectionism and self-esteem among a sample of inter-collegiate athletes (36 male, 51 female, M age = 19.65 years). Perfectionism was assessed with the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Frost-MPS; Frost et al., 1990). Self-esteem was assessed by Rosenberg’s (1965) Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and a modified sport-specific version of Heatherton and Polivy’s (1991) State Self-Esteem Scale (SSES). Exploratory factor analysis of the modified SSES revealed two factors that were labeled Satisfaction with Current Sport Performance (SCSP) and Perceived Athletic Competence (PAC). Canonical correlation (RC) analysis was used to examine the multivariate relationship between perfectionism and self-esteem. One significant canonical function was extracted (RC = .74, p < .001). The pattern of canonical loadings suggested that athletes who adopted a maladaptive perfectionist orientation had low levels of self-esteem. Results are discussed around Hamachek’s (1978) distinction between adaptive and maladaptive forms of perfectionism. The importance of measuring perfectionism as a mutlidimensional construct in sport is also discussed.
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An examination of perfectionism and self-esteem in intercollegiate athletes
John K Gotwals; John G H Dunn; Heidi A Wayment
Journal of Sport Behavior; Mar 2003; 26, 1; ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source
pg. 17
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... In the same study, the more malleable personality factors including self-esteem, positive and negative affectivity and optimism were also related to burnout. Among these factors, self-esteem is related to perfectionism (e.g., Gotwals et al., 2003;Sorotzkin, 1985). Studies demonstrated an increasing level of perfectionism could trigger an inner compulsion which predisposes workaholics to work harder than necessary (Killinger, 2006;Scott et al., 1997;Spence Psikoloji Çalışmaları -Studies in Psychology & Robbins, 1992) and that workaholism could develop due to feelings of lower self-esteem (Mudrack, 2006). ...
... In a study conducted with undergraduates Flett and colleagues (1991) found that adaptive perfectionism was positively related with self-esteem and not directly related to depression; yet in the same study, maladaptive perfectionism was reported to be associated with lower self-esteem and higher depression. Thus, in line with studies which pointed out that self-esteem was a mediator between perfectionism and distress (Rice et al., 1988) as well as the relations of this concept with perfectionism (e.g., Gotwals et al., 2003) and burnout (e.g., Alarcon et al., 2009) self-esteem could also act as a mediator in the perfectionism-burnout relationship. ...
... However, these studies' results did not find support for the mediating role of self-esteem. Yet, given the studies reporting the relationship of self-esteem with perfectionism (e.g., Gotwals et al., 2003) and burnout (e.g., Alarcon et al., 2009), the results warrant further investigation as to the possible role of self-esteem in this relationship. It is also worth examining the moderating role of self-esteem in the relationship between perfectionism and burnout. ...
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... e rst part included participants' sociodemographic data: gender, age, county of residence, type of sports they play. In the second part, participants answered questions about perfectionism arising from the translated questionnaire Sport Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale-2 (SMPS-2) (Gotwals et al., 2003). is part consists of 43 items with which the participants expressed the level of their agreement using the ve-point Likert scale (1 -I completely disagree, 2 -I disagree, 3 -I neither agree nor disagree, 4 -I agree, 5 -I completely agree). ...
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Conference Paper
Full-text available
  • Nov 2023
Perfectionism is an increasingly common negative tendency to set high goals and expectations, which may be the basis for the development of depressive symptoms in young athletes. e purpose of this paper is to identify aspects of perfectionism and their association with depressive symptoms in young athletes. e research was conducted with a sample of subjects (n = 256) aged 9 to 17 years, coming from di erent parts of Croatia. e respondents were active athletes from di erent sports, divided including team (n = 163) and individual (n = 93) sports. Two questionnaires on mood and feeling were used for the study: e Short Version (MFQ) was used to assess depressive symptoms and the Sport Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale 2 (SMPS-2) to assess aspects of perfectionism. e questionnaire consisted of 43 items to which participants gave their agreement on a ve-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and multiple regression analysis. A correlation was found between the total depression variable and six variables of mean perfectionism (R2 = 0.28). Four variables (high expectations, failure = complete failure, failure = annoyance, and rarely feeling that training prepared me for competition) were related to self-referential perfectionism, while the other two variables (coach criticizes everything except perfect performance, only outstanding performance is appreciated by the coach) were related to the coach and his in uence. ese variables are related to high expectations in sports, failure, frustration a er a mistake, perception of the coach as a critical person who sets too high goals, and participants blaming themselves for poor training.
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... In some studies, parents and trainers have been reported as important sources of the drive for perfectionism in athletes (Gotwals et al., 2003;McArdle & Duda, 2004;Ommundsen et al., 2005). Dunn et al. (2006) claimed that coach pressure might be more important than parental pressure, since coaches might have a more direct effect on athletic performance than parents. ...
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This study aimed to examine levels of perfectionism and fear of failure of elite athletes in the Turkish national taekwondo team through qualitative research methods. A total of 11 national team athletes (6 females and 5 males) participated in the research. The data were collected using a semi-structured interview technique. In the study, opinions, emotions and thoughts of elite national team athletes about the concept of perfectionism and fear of failure were determined. In the theme of perfectionism, there were 7 categories and 35 codes; in the theme of fear of failure, 6 categories and 36 codes were revealed. It might be concluded that perfectionism and fear of failure have a more complex structure than it seems for elite and high-ranking athletes, and this might affect their motivation in many positive and negative ways. In addition, it was found that when the coach is a family member, two concerns of athletes (the coach is upset due to failure, and the family is upset due to failure) come together. Therefore, those who are both a coach and parent should be more careful with their children/athletes. It should also be kept in mind that while perfectionism is a great source of motivation and self-confidence, it has the potential to make athletes drop out of sports.
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... Atienden selectivamente a las claves que confirman que sus estándares no son realizados (5). Subestiman su capacidad para enfrentar las tareas y reportan sentirse más molestos por pensamientos negativos (6), además de reportar baja autoestima (7). Hoy en día se sugiere un aspecto positivo del fenómeno y se ha propuesto una medida diseñada para medir los componentes adaptativos y desadaptativos: la Almost Perfect Scale -Revised (APS-R de aquí en más) (8). ...
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Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2009
2009). Una revisión de estudios que utilizan la Escala APS-R como medida para la evaluación del perfeccionismo multidimensional. Dirección estable: https://www.aacademica.org/000-020/172 Acta Académica es un proyecto académico sin fines de lucro enmarcado en la iniciativa de acceso abierto. Acta Académica fue creado para facilitar a investigadores de todo el mundo el compartir su producción académica. Para crear un perfil gratuitamente o acceder a otros trabajos visite: https://www.aacademica.org.
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... In addition, perfectionistic concerns are typically related to indicators of lower goal-realization. This is evident in work examining their relationship with performance satisfaction (e.g., Gotwals et al., 2003) and satisfaction with progress (e.g., Appleton et al., 2009). Findings for perfectionistic strivings, though, mirror broader research and are more mixed. ...
A conditional process model of perfectionism, goal-realization, and post-competition mood
Article
Full-text available
  • Aug 2023
  • PSYCHOL SPORT EXERC
Research has recently begun to examine the relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and athletes' post-competition mood. However, to date, there have been few attempts to examine the interaction between dimensions of perfectionism or model possible explanatory processes. To address these limitations, in the current study we tested a novel conditional process model whereby the relationship between perfectionistic strivings and post-competition affect was mediated by the degree to which goals were considered to have been met (goal-realization) and that this indirect effect was, in turn, moderated by levels of perfectionistic concerns. We tested this model in a sample of 251 athletes who took part in a "Runmageddon" event - a cross-country obstacle race. Athletes completed measures of perfectionism (perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns) before the race and measures of goal-realization and mood (tense arousal, energetic arousal, and hedonic tone) between 24 and 48 h after the race. Analyses revealed that perfectionistic strivings were indirectly linked to a more unpleasant post-competition mood (higher tense arousal and lower hedonic tone) via perceptions of lower goal-realization. In addition, these two indirect effects were statistically significant only when perfectionistic concerns were medium and high. The results support the proposed conditional model and suggest the interplay between dimensions of perfectionism is important for athletes' post-competition mood, and the level of perfectionistic concerns, especially.
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Article
Full-text available
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Este artículo trata el concepto de ‘perfeccionismo’. Se comentan cinco errores muy comunes sobre el ‘perfeccionismo’. Contrariamente a la creencia popular, ’perfeccionismo’ no significa necesariamente un atributo negativo de un jugador o entrenador. En todo caso, el ‘perfeccionismo’ puede ser un atributo positivo y normal asociado con la excelencia tenística. Se mencionan las consecuencias para los entrenadores.
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علاقة الكمالية العصابية والحريصة بتوكيد الذات لدى الطلبة المتفوقين في الصف الثاني عشر بدولة الكويت The Relationship of Neurotic and Normal Perfectionism with Self-Assertiveness among High-Achieving 12th Grade Students in The State of Kuwait
Article
Full-text available
  • May 2023
الملخص: تهدف الدراسة إلى تحديد طبيعة ومستوى النزعة الكمالية عند الطلبة المتفوقين في الصف الثاني عشر بالكويت. كما تهدف إلى تحديد نوع النزعة؛ إن كانت سوية أم عصابية، ومِن ثَم اختبار علاقتها بتوكيد الذات. اشتملت أدوات الدراسة على مقياس قائمة الكمالية، ومقياس توكيد الذات التي تم تطبيقها على 173 طالبًا وطالبة من المتفوقين. وأظهرت النتائج أن المتفوقين يميلون إلى الكمالية الحريصة أكثر من الكمالية العصابية، وأن هناك علاقة ارتباطية دالة إحصائيًّا بين الأبعاد الكمالية الحريصة (التخطيط – التنظيم – الرغبة بالتميز)، وتوكيد الذات. كما أن هناك فروقًا ذات دلالة إحصائية بين الذكور والإناث؛ حيث اتضح أن الذكور لديهم نزعة عصابية أكثر من الإناث، وبالأخص في بُعْد الضغوط الوالدية. وأظهرت النتائج أيضًا: أن الذكور أكثر توكيدًا للذات من الإناث. ووجدت الدراسة فروقًا دالة إحصائيًّا في مستويات الكمالية تبعًا لمتغير المذاكرة المنزلية، ومتغير الهدف الأكاديمي. ففي متغير المذاكرة المنزلية، كان الطلاب الذين يقضون ثلاث ساعات أو أكثر في المذاكرة اليومية يتمتعون بمتوسطات حسابية عالية في أبعاد الكمالية الحريصة؛ كالتخطيط والرغبة بالتميز. أما متغير الهدف الأكاديمي، فقد أظهرت النتائج أن الطلاب الذين يخططون إلى الانتساب لكليات طب الأسنان لديهم نزعة كمالية أكبر من الطلاب الذين يخططون للانتساب لكليات أخرى. Abstract: The study aims to determine the nature and level of perfectionism among the outstanding students in the twelfth grade in Kuwait. It also aims to determine the type of tendency, whether normal or neurotic, and then test its relationship to self-affirmation. The study tools included the perfectionism checklist and the self-affirmation scale, which were applied to 173 gifted male and female students. The results showed that the outstanding students tend to be more keen perfectionists than neurotic perfectionists, and that there is a statistically significant correlation between the dimensions of keen perfectionism (planning - organization - desire for excellence) and self-assertiveness. There are also statistically significant differences between males and females, as it became clear that males have more neurotic tendencies than females, especially in the dimension of parental pressures. The results showed that males are more self-assertive than females. The study found statistically significant differences in the levels of perfectionism, according to the home study variable and the academic goal variable. In the home study variable, the students who spent three hours or more in daily study had high arithmetic averages in the dimensions of keen perfectionism such as planning and the desire for excellence. As for the academic goal variable, the results showed that students who plan to enroll in dental colleges have a greater perfectionist tendency than students who plan to enroll in other colleges.
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