Perfectionistic Profiles Among Elite Athletes and Differences in Their Motivational Orientations

Abstract

Although there is an emerging body of research that has examined perfectionistic clusters in the general population, few studies have explored such profiles in athlete samples. The purposes of this research were to explore perfectionistic profiles within a sample of elite athletes and the differences between them on key motivational variables. A sample of 423 elite athletes (179 males, 244 females) aged between 14 and 66 years (M = 25.64; SD = 8.57) from a variety of team (e.g., rowing, hockey, baseball, rugby) and individual sports (e.g., cycling, athletics, triathlon, gymnastics) completed a multisection questionnaire including measures of sport perfectionism, motivation regulation, achievement goals, and fear of failure. Cluster analyses revealed the existence of three perfectionism profiles, namely, nonperfectionists, maladaptive perfectionists, and adaptive perfectionists. Subsequent analyses generally supported the robustness of these perfectionism profiles in terms of differential motivational orientations (achievement goals, fear of failure, and motivation regulation) in hypothesized directions. Overall, the differences in motivational orientations between the three clusters supported a categorical conceptualization of perfectionism.

A review of competitive sport motivation research

“…At the elite level, Gaudreau and Antl (2008) identified three categories of athletes: adaptive perfectionists; maladaptive perfectionists; and, non-perfectionists. Adaptive perfectionists score higher on mastery approach goals and lower on fear of failure than others (Gucciardi, Mahoney, Jalleh, Donovan, & Parkes, 2012). These findings suggest that perfectionism and motivation are linked, with motivation being an outcome and/or occupying a mediating role with another variable.…”

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

“…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 . 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 .…”

“…Perfectionism may be one personal factor associated with psychological need frustration. Perfectionism is viewed as a multidimensional personality trait or disposition, which is likely to influence motivational functioning in unique ways . Moreover, it is claimed to be paradoxical, energizes a strong motivational force (ie, dedication, effort, and persistence), yet, might also nurture debilitative patterns of cognition, emotion, and behavior .…”

O impacto dos traços de perfeccionismo na motivação de atletas de futebol de alto rendimento

“…In this context, studies have shown perfectionism traits as an antecedent of motivation in sport 2 . However, there is no consensus in literature on the potential association between adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism in sport performance 3,4 , especially regarding motivation in soccer players.…”

“…An interesting theoretical approach to investigate such associations is the Self-Determination Theory \ SDT 5 , which has shown evidence of complex relationships within sports psychology 6,7 . Specifically, studies in the field of sports science have shown the relationship between perfectionism and self-determined motivation 2,4 . However, our literature review points out this study as the first to address the prediction relationship between perfectionist orientations and motivation in soccer players.…”