Perfectionism as a Paradoxical Factor in Sport and Exercise Performance: An Umbrella Review
-
Edgar Froilan Damián Núñez
,
Lucia Mireya Soria Villanueva
,
Marco Antonio Tejada Mendoza
,
Sandy Dorian Isla Alcoser
,
Jessica Paola Palacios Garay
,
Ronald Miguel Hernández
Abstract
Objective: Traditionally, perfectionism has been regarded as a commendable trait in the realm of sports and exercise. However, recent research has uncovered a paradoxical aspect of perfectionism in these domains. This umbrella review seeks to offer a comprehensive overview of the intricate role that perfectionism plays in sport and exercise performance.
Method: As an umbrella review, we systematically explored three widely used scientific databases—PubMed, Scopus, and ISI—to identify relevant systematic reviewes and meta-analyses investigating the relationship between perfectionism and sports performance.
Results: After careful evaluation, eight studies met our inclusion criteria and were included in the study. These eight eligible studies comprised five systematic reviews and three systematic review and meta-analysis publications. These publications have explored the correlation between perfectionism and sports performance in teenager and adult populations, as well as professional and amateur athletes. Most of the original articles included in these studies had a cross-sectional design and some of them were longitudinal research. All reviewed articles reported a significant correlation between perfectionism and sports performance, regardless of gender and age. In general, the main consensus of these studies is a moderate to high positive correlation between perfectionistic strivings and sports performance, as well as a moderate to high negative correlation between perfectionistic concerns and sports performance.
Conclusion: In summary, perfectionism exhibits both positive and negative effects on athlete outcomes. Maladaptive perfectionism is linked to adverse consequences, while adaptive perfectionism can yield positive effects. Promisingly, psychological interventions such as mindfulness-based approaches and ACT-based interventions show potential in reducing perfectionism and enhancing athlete outcomes. Future research should delve deeper into the intricate relationship between perfectionism and athlete performance and continue to devise interventions that counteract the detrimental effects of perfectionistic tendencies.
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2. Hosseini FS, Hadizadeh-Talasaz F, Bahri N. The Relationship between Perfectionism and Sexual Function: A Systematic Review. Iran J Psychiatry. 2023;18(1):83-92.
3. Broman-Fulks JJ, Hill RW, Green BA. Is perfectionism categorical or dimensional? A taxometric analysis. J Pers Assess. 2008;90(5):481-90.
4. Ayadi N, Pireinaladin S, Shokri M, Dargahi S, Zarein F. Investigating the Mediating Role of Procrastination in the Relationship between Positive and Negative Perfectionism and Mobile Phone Addiction in Gifted Students. Iran J Psychiatry. 2021;16(1):30-55.
5. Vink K, Raudsepp L. Longitudinal Associations Between Perfectionistic Strivings, Perfectionistic Concerns, and Sport-Specific Practice in Adolescent Volleyball Players. Percept Mot Skills. 2020;127(3):609-25.
6. Ramis Y, Pons J, Alcaraz S, Pallares S, Viladrich C, Muñoz-Justicia J, et al. Perfectionistic Environments and Irrational Beliefs on the Transition to Elite Athletic Performance: A Longitudinal Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(8):5561.
7. Vink K, Raudsepp L. Perfectionistic Strivings, Motivation and Engagement in Sport-Specific Activities Among Adolescent Team Athletes. Percept Mot Skills. 2018;125(3):596-611.
8. Lizmore MR, Dunn JG, Dunn JC. Perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, and reactions to poor personal performances among intercollegiate athletes. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2017;33:75-84.
9. Török L, Szabó ZP, Orosz G. Elite Athletes' Perfectionistic Striving vs. Concerns as Opposing Predictors of Self-Handicapping With the Mediating Role of Attributional Style. Front Psychol. 2022;13:862122.
10. Greblo Z, Barić R, Cecić Erpič S. Perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns in athletes: The role of peer motivational climate. Curr Psychol. 2016;35:370-6.
11. Roy J, Godin R, Gaudreault P, Forest G. The relationship between sleep, perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, and academic and sports performance in young athletes. Chronobiol Int. 2023;40(11):1500-14.
12. Rasquinha A, Dunn JG, Dunn JC. Relationships between perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, and competitive sport level. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2014;15(6):659-67.
13. Mallinson-Howard SH, Hill AP, Hall H. The 2× 2 model of perfectionism and negative experiences in youth sport. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2019;45:101581.
14. Mallinson SH, Hill AP, Hall HK, Gotwals JK. The 2× 2 model of perfectionism and school‐and community‐based sport participation. Psychol Sch. 2014;51(9):972-85.
15. Gaudreau P. The 2× 2 model of perfectionism in sport, dance, and exercise. The psychology of perfectionism in sport, dance and exercise. 2016:174-200.
16. Hewitt PL, Flett GL. Perfectionism in the self and social contexts: conceptualization, assessment, and association with psychopathology. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1991;60(3):456-70.
17. Cremades JG, Donlon CJ, Poczwardowski A. Parental involvement and gender differences in the psychological profile of freshmen collegiate athletes. J Sport Health Sci. 2013;2(3):160-7.
18. Gluschkoff K, Elovainio M, Hintsanen M, Mullola S, Pulkki-Råback L, Keltikangas-Järvinen L, et al. Perfectionism and depressive symptoms: The effects of psychological detachment from work. Pers Individ Dif. 2017;116:186-90.
19. González-Hernández J, Gómez-López M, Pérez-Turpin JA, Muñoz-Villena AJ, Andreu-Cabrera E. Perfectly Active Teenagers. When Does Physical Exercise Help Psychological Well-Being in Adolescents? Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(22).
20. Zucchetti G, Candela F, Villosio C. Psychological and social correlates of doping attitudes among Italian athletes. Int J Drug Policy. 2015;26(2):162-8.
21. Fawver B, Cowan R, DeCouto B, Lohse K, Podlog L, Williams A. Psychological characteristics, sport engagement, and performance in alpine skiers. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2020;47:101616.
22. Yakushina A, Leonov S, Peshin N, Aslanova M. Primary approbation of" Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale-2-SMPS-2" on Russian sample. Vopr Psikhol. 2021(1):156-+.
23. Appleton PR, Hall HK, Hill AP. Relations between multidimensional perfectionism and burnout in junior-elite male athletes. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2009;10(4):457-65.
24. Donachie TC, Hill AP, Hall HK. The relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and pre-competition emotions of youth footballers. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2018;37:33-42.
25. Török L, Szabó ZP, Orosz G. Elite Athletes' Perfectionistic Striving vs. Concerns as Opposing Predictors of Self-Handicapping With the Mediating Role of Attributional Style. Front Psychol. 2022;13:862122.
26. Jackman PC, Swann C, Crust L. Exploring athletes' perceptions of the relationship between mental toughness and dispositional flow in sport. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2016;27:56-65.
27. Tóth R, Turner MJ, Kökény T, Tóth L. "I must be perfect": The role of irrational beliefs and perfectionism on the competitive anxiety of Hungarian athletes. Front Psychol. 2022;13:994126.
28. Gotwals JK, Tamminen KA. Intercollegiate perfectionistic athletes’ perspectives on success and failure in sport. J Appl Sport Psychol. 2022;34(1):25-46.
29. Jeong SSY, Ryan C. A critical review of child perfectionism as it relates to music pedagogy. Psychol Music. 2022;50(4):1312-27.
30. Madigan DJ. A meta-analysis of perfectionism and academic achievement. Educ Psychol Rev. 2019;31:967-89.
31. González-Hernández J, Nogueira A, Zangeneh M, López-Mora C. Exercise addiction and perfectionism, joint in the same path? A systematic review. Int J Ment Health Addict. 2021:1-24.
32. Souza ROd, Osiecki R, Silva JKFd, Costa PdL, Stefanello JMF. Analysis of psychological variables associated with the burnout syndrome and performance in adult athletes through the athlete burnout questionnaire-ABQ. J Phys Educ. 2018;29.
33. Clancy RB, Herring MP, MacIntyre TE, Campbell MJ. A review of competitive sport motivation research. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2016;27:232-42.
34. Harwood CG, Keegan RJ, Smith JM, Raine AS. A systematic review of the intrapersonal correlates of motivational climate perceptions in sport and physical activity. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2015;18:9-25.
35. Harwood CG, Keegan RJ, Smith JM, Raine AS. A systematic review of the intrapersonal correlates of motivational climate perceptions in sport and physical activity. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2015;18:9-25.
36. Yang JH, Yang HJ, Choi C, Bum CH. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Burnout Owing to Perfectionism in Elite Athletes Based on the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS) and Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). Healthcare (Basel). 2023;11(10):1417.
37. Woods S, Dunne S, Gallagher P, McNicholl A. A systematic review of the factors associated with athlete burnout in team sports. Int Rev Sport Exerc Psychol. 2022:1-41.
38. Hill AP, Mallinson-Howard SH, Jowett GE. Multidimensional perfectionism in sport: A meta-analytical review. Sport Exerc Perform Psychol. 2018;7(3):235.
39. Demirkan AK. Exploring the Relationship between Smartphone Addiction, Quality of Life, and Personality Traits in University Students. Iran J Psychiatry. 2024:1-11.
40. Ghiasi H, Mohammadi A, Zarrinfar P. An Investigation into the Roles of Theory of Mind, Emotion Regulation, and Attachment Styles in Predicting the Traits of Borderline Personality Disorder. Iran J Psychiatry. 2016;11(4):206-13.
41. Besharat MA. The Relationship of Personality to Eating Disorders. Iran J Psychiatry. 2008;3(1):1-8.
42. Mohammadi MR, Pourdehghan P, Mostafavi S-A, Hooshyari Z, Alavi SS, Khaleghi A, et al. Personality disorders and unhealthy lifestyle: A cross-sectional study. Acta Medica Iranica. 2021:161-8.
43. Pourdehghan P, Mohammadi MR, Mostafavi SA, Khaleghi A, Ahmadi N. The Relationship of Parental Personality Disorders with Offspring Eating Disorders at Childhood and Adolescence Age. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2024;55(2):361-71.
44. Reinebo G, Alfonsson S, Jansson-Fröjmark M, Rozental A, Lundgren T. Effects of Psychological Interventions to Enhance Athletic Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Med. 2023.
2. Hosseini FS, Hadizadeh-Talasaz F, Bahri N. The Relationship between Perfectionism and Sexual Function: A Systematic Review. Iran J Psychiatry. 2023;18(1):83-92.
3. Broman-Fulks JJ, Hill RW, Green BA. Is perfectionism categorical or dimensional? A taxometric analysis. J Pers Assess. 2008;90(5):481-90.
4. Ayadi N, Pireinaladin S, Shokri M, Dargahi S, Zarein F. Investigating the Mediating Role of Procrastination in the Relationship between Positive and Negative Perfectionism and Mobile Phone Addiction in Gifted Students. Iran J Psychiatry. 2021;16(1):30-55.
5. Vink K, Raudsepp L. Longitudinal Associations Between Perfectionistic Strivings, Perfectionistic Concerns, and Sport-Specific Practice in Adolescent Volleyball Players. Percept Mot Skills. 2020;127(3):609-25.
6. Ramis Y, Pons J, Alcaraz S, Pallares S, Viladrich C, Muñoz-Justicia J, et al. Perfectionistic Environments and Irrational Beliefs on the Transition to Elite Athletic Performance: A Longitudinal Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(8):5561.
7. Vink K, Raudsepp L. Perfectionistic Strivings, Motivation and Engagement in Sport-Specific Activities Among Adolescent Team Athletes. Percept Mot Skills. 2018;125(3):596-611.
8. Lizmore MR, Dunn JG, Dunn JC. Perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, and reactions to poor personal performances among intercollegiate athletes. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2017;33:75-84.
9. Török L, Szabó ZP, Orosz G. Elite Athletes' Perfectionistic Striving vs. Concerns as Opposing Predictors of Self-Handicapping With the Mediating Role of Attributional Style. Front Psychol. 2022;13:862122.
10. Greblo Z, Barić R, Cecić Erpič S. Perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns in athletes: The role of peer motivational climate. Curr Psychol. 2016;35:370-6.
11. Roy J, Godin R, Gaudreault P, Forest G. The relationship between sleep, perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, and academic and sports performance in young athletes. Chronobiol Int. 2023;40(11):1500-14.
12. Rasquinha A, Dunn JG, Dunn JC. Relationships between perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, and competitive sport level. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2014;15(6):659-67.
13. Mallinson-Howard SH, Hill AP, Hall H. The 2× 2 model of perfectionism and negative experiences in youth sport. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2019;45:101581.
14. Mallinson SH, Hill AP, Hall HK, Gotwals JK. The 2× 2 model of perfectionism and school‐and community‐based sport participation. Psychol Sch. 2014;51(9):972-85.
15. Gaudreau P. The 2× 2 model of perfectionism in sport, dance, and exercise. The psychology of perfectionism in sport, dance and exercise. 2016:174-200.
16. Hewitt PL, Flett GL. Perfectionism in the self and social contexts: conceptualization, assessment, and association with psychopathology. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1991;60(3):456-70.
17. Cremades JG, Donlon CJ, Poczwardowski A. Parental involvement and gender differences in the psychological profile of freshmen collegiate athletes. J Sport Health Sci. 2013;2(3):160-7.
18. Gluschkoff K, Elovainio M, Hintsanen M, Mullola S, Pulkki-Råback L, Keltikangas-Järvinen L, et al. Perfectionism and depressive symptoms: The effects of psychological detachment from work. Pers Individ Dif. 2017;116:186-90.
19. González-Hernández J, Gómez-López M, Pérez-Turpin JA, Muñoz-Villena AJ, Andreu-Cabrera E. Perfectly Active Teenagers. When Does Physical Exercise Help Psychological Well-Being in Adolescents? Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(22).
20. Zucchetti G, Candela F, Villosio C. Psychological and social correlates of doping attitudes among Italian athletes. Int J Drug Policy. 2015;26(2):162-8.
21. Fawver B, Cowan R, DeCouto B, Lohse K, Podlog L, Williams A. Psychological characteristics, sport engagement, and performance in alpine skiers. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2020;47:101616.
22. Yakushina A, Leonov S, Peshin N, Aslanova M. Primary approbation of" Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale-2-SMPS-2" on Russian sample. Vopr Psikhol. 2021(1):156-+.
23. Appleton PR, Hall HK, Hill AP. Relations between multidimensional perfectionism and burnout in junior-elite male athletes. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2009;10(4):457-65.
24. Donachie TC, Hill AP, Hall HK. The relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and pre-competition emotions of youth footballers. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2018;37:33-42.
25. Török L, Szabó ZP, Orosz G. Elite Athletes' Perfectionistic Striving vs. Concerns as Opposing Predictors of Self-Handicapping With the Mediating Role of Attributional Style. Front Psychol. 2022;13:862122.
26. Jackman PC, Swann C, Crust L. Exploring athletes' perceptions of the relationship between mental toughness and dispositional flow in sport. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2016;27:56-65.
27. Tóth R, Turner MJ, Kökény T, Tóth L. "I must be perfect": The role of irrational beliefs and perfectionism on the competitive anxiety of Hungarian athletes. Front Psychol. 2022;13:994126.
28. Gotwals JK, Tamminen KA. Intercollegiate perfectionistic athletes’ perspectives on success and failure in sport. J Appl Sport Psychol. 2022;34(1):25-46.
29. Jeong SSY, Ryan C. A critical review of child perfectionism as it relates to music pedagogy. Psychol Music. 2022;50(4):1312-27.
30. Madigan DJ. A meta-analysis of perfectionism and academic achievement. Educ Psychol Rev. 2019;31:967-89.
31. González-Hernández J, Nogueira A, Zangeneh M, López-Mora C. Exercise addiction and perfectionism, joint in the same path? A systematic review. Int J Ment Health Addict. 2021:1-24.
32. Souza ROd, Osiecki R, Silva JKFd, Costa PdL, Stefanello JMF. Analysis of psychological variables associated with the burnout syndrome and performance in adult athletes through the athlete burnout questionnaire-ABQ. J Phys Educ. 2018;29.
33. Clancy RB, Herring MP, MacIntyre TE, Campbell MJ. A review of competitive sport motivation research. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2016;27:232-42.
34. Harwood CG, Keegan RJ, Smith JM, Raine AS. A systematic review of the intrapersonal correlates of motivational climate perceptions in sport and physical activity. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2015;18:9-25.
35. Harwood CG, Keegan RJ, Smith JM, Raine AS. A systematic review of the intrapersonal correlates of motivational climate perceptions in sport and physical activity. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2015;18:9-25.
36. Yang JH, Yang HJ, Choi C, Bum CH. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Burnout Owing to Perfectionism in Elite Athletes Based on the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS) and Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). Healthcare (Basel). 2023;11(10):1417.
37. Woods S, Dunne S, Gallagher P, McNicholl A. A systematic review of the factors associated with athlete burnout in team sports. Int Rev Sport Exerc Psychol. 2022:1-41.
38. Hill AP, Mallinson-Howard SH, Jowett GE. Multidimensional perfectionism in sport: A meta-analytical review. Sport Exerc Perform Psychol. 2018;7(3):235.
39. Demirkan AK. Exploring the Relationship between Smartphone Addiction, Quality of Life, and Personality Traits in University Students. Iran J Psychiatry. 2024:1-11.
40. Ghiasi H, Mohammadi A, Zarrinfar P. An Investigation into the Roles of Theory of Mind, Emotion Regulation, and Attachment Styles in Predicting the Traits of Borderline Personality Disorder. Iran J Psychiatry. 2016;11(4):206-13.
41. Besharat MA. The Relationship of Personality to Eating Disorders. Iran J Psychiatry. 2008;3(1):1-8.
42. Mohammadi MR, Pourdehghan P, Mostafavi S-A, Hooshyari Z, Alavi SS, Khaleghi A, et al. Personality disorders and unhealthy lifestyle: A cross-sectional study. Acta Medica Iranica. 2021:161-8.
43. Pourdehghan P, Mohammadi MR, Mostafavi SA, Khaleghi A, Ahmadi N. The Relationship of Parental Personality Disorders with Offspring Eating Disorders at Childhood and Adolescence Age. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2024;55(2):361-71.
44. Reinebo G, Alfonsson S, Jansson-Fröjmark M, Rozental A, Lundgren T. Effects of Psychological Interventions to Enhance Athletic Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Med. 2023.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 19 No 2 (2024) | |
| Section | Review Article(s) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/ijps.v19i2.15111 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Exercise Perfectionism Personality Assessment Sports Performance Systematic Review | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Froilan Damián Núñez E, Mireya Soria Villanueva L, Antonio Tejada Mendoza M, Dorian Isla Alcoser S, Paola Palacios Garay J, Miguel Hernández R. Perfectionism as a Paradoxical Factor in Sport and Exercise Performance: An Umbrella Review. Iran J Psychiatry. 2024;19(2):244-251.
