Titel: The Relationship between Perfectionism and Self-Determined Motivation and their influence on Training Behaviors and Lifestyle of Young Swiss Elite Athletes
Kurztitel: Perfectionism in Young Swiss Elite Athletes
Hintergrund: To reach excellence in elite sports today, athletes are expected to deliver perfect performances. One commonly assumes this is achieved through perfectionism. Perfectionism is a multidimensional personality trait that has been defined as striving for excellence and the setting of extremely high standards for performance accompanied by a manner of overly critical self-evaluation (e.g., Dunn, Causgrove Dunn, & Syrotuik, 2002).
Although it has been suggested that perfectionism is solely a debilitating characteristic (Flett & Hewitt, 2005), other research has highlighted that perfectionism, without overly negative self-evaluation, can have positive motivational qualities that lead to positive outcomes (e.g., Gould, Dieffenbach, & Moffett, 2002; Stoeber & Otto, 2006).
A distinction between two major dimensions of perfectionism may be drawn: adaptive perfectionism and maladaptive perfectionism (Enns & Cox, 2002). Perfectionism is thought to energise motivation, which itself has an impact on training behaviours (Oliver, Markland, & Hardy, in press) and well-being (Deci & Ryan, 2000). Importantly sport is not isolated from the rest of the world. Athletes have outside interests and are motivated to participate in other activities than sport. These other activities can lead to life-domains conflicts which could influence the relationship between perfectionism and motivation.
Fragestellung: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and perceived need thwarting, and the moderating effect of life domains conflicts on this relationships. Further, a conditional process model (PROCESS) (Hayes and Preacher, in review) was employed to investigate the associations between perceived need thwarting, behavioural regulation, training behaviours and subjective well-being.
Methode: A cross-sectional, survey-based design was employed. Two hundred and fifty-one young Swiss elite athlete from various sports (148 male, 103 female; M age = 20.4, SD = 2.12) were recruited from national sport associations and completed measures of multidimensional perfectionism, perceived need thwarting, behavioural regulation, life-sport conflicts, training behaviours and subjective well-being.
Ergebnisse: Preliminary results have revealed that life domains conflicts moderate the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and need thwarting. Further analyses are being performed.
Diskussion: The preliminary findings provide support for the hypothesised role of conflicts on the relationship between perfectionism and need thwarting. Further, PROCESS analyses will be employed to test the hypothesised model. The result of the study should assist consultants detect negative behaviours and design appropriate interventions for athletes who are maladaptive perfectionists and extrinsically motivated. The findings may be used to explain to parents and coaches the influence of their pressure on the young athletes. Through guided education, parents and coaches could learn to support their talented children more effectively.
