Perfectionism, burnout and engagement in youth sport: The mediating role of basic psychological needs

Abstract

Recent research indicates perfectionistic concerns and perfectionistic strivings share divergent associations with athlete burnout and athlete engagement. Guided by selfdetermination theory, the present study examined whether these associations were explained by basic psychological needs. Youth athletes (n = 222, M age = 16.01, SD = 2.68) completed measures of multidimensional perfectionism, athlete burnout, athlete engagement, basic psychological need satisfaction and thwarting. Structural equation modelling revealed that basic psychological need satisfaction and thwarting mediated the perfectionism-engagement and perfectionism-burnout relationships. Perfectionistic concerns shared a negative relationship (via need satisfaction) with athlete engagement and a positive relationship (via need satisfaction and thwarting) with athlete burnout. In contrast, perfectionistic strivings shared a positive relationship (via need satisfaction) with athlete engagement and a negative relationship (via need satisfaction and thwarting) with athlete burnout. The findings highlight the role of basic psychological needs in explaining the differential associations that perfectionistic concerns and strivings share with athlete burnout and engagement.

Motivation Mediates the Perfectionism–Burnout Relationship: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study With Junior Athletes

“…Recent empirical evidence shows that basic psychological need satisfaction and thwarting may help explain the perfectionism-athlete burnout relationship. For example, a cross-sectional study (Jowett, Hill, Hall, & Curran, 2016), examining a sample of junior athletes, found that lower need satisfaction and higher need thwarting mediated the positive cross-sectional association between perfectionistic concerns and burnout, whereas higher need satisfaction and lower need thwarting mediated the negative cross-sectional association between perfectionistic strivings and burnout. Future longitudinal research should, therefore, explore this possibility.…”

Change in basic need frustration in relation to perfectionism, anxiety, and performance in elite junior performers

“…26,27 Evaluative concerns are likely to undermine the three basic psychological needs, because EC is related to an overcritical self-evaluation (ie, frustration of competence), being externally driven and rigid (ie, frustration of autonomy), and social inflexible (ie, frustration of relatedness). 6,23,28 EC are also associated with insufficient coping strategies (ie, threat appraisal and avoidance coping) 29 and being less resilient when faced with adversity. 26,27,30 Previous research has shown associations between socially derived dimensions of perfectionism, such as EC, and a range of maladaptive and unhealthy outcomes including basic need frustration, 6,11 anxiety, 31 and decreasing performance development.…”

“…6,23,28 EC are also associated with insufficient coping strategies (ie, threat appraisal and avoidance coping) 29 and being less resilient when faced with adversity. 26,27,30 Previous research has shown associations between socially derived dimensions of perfectionism, such as EC, and a range of maladaptive and unhealthy outcomes including basic need frustration, 6,11 anxiety, 31 and decreasing performance development. 32 This is a paradox, as growth-oriented functioning, despite strain, is essential to thrive and succeed as an elite performer.…”

“…Yet, few studies based on self‐determination theory (SDT) have investigated personal factors, even though they are likely to influence the perception of and reaction to environmental requests and demands, thereby influencing the satisfaction or frustration of the three basic psychological needs . Hence, the purpose of the present longitudinal cohort study was to examine the role of perfectionism and basic need frustration in the development of maladaptive motivational processes over time.…”

“…Reaching the top in sports and performing arts can be hard and stressful . The motivational mechanisms of the basic psychological needs might over time underpin why some elite junior performers survive and thrive, despite adversity, and why others experience ill‐being and diminished functioning . Both personal and contextual factors are found to influence the motivational functioning of elite junior performers .…”