Perfectionistic Strivings and Perfectionistic Concerns in Athletes: The Role of Peer Motivational Climate

Abstract

The present study investigated the relationship between different types of peer motivational climates and distinct aspects of athletes’ perfectionism. The study included 258 athletes (32 % female) who ranged in age from 18 to 25 years (M = 20.44 years; SD = 1.01). The findings showed that athletes’ perfectionistic strivings were positively related to their perceptions of a task-involving motivational climate (i.e., improvement, relatedness/support, and effort), whereas negative reactions to imperfection were positively related only to perceptions of intra-team conflict. Moreover, when the overlap between the two facets of perfectionism was controlled for, negative reactions to imperfection were negatively associated with perceptions of an effort-oriented motivational climate. Unexpectedly, perceived intra-team competition/ability was positively related to striving for perfection. Peer motivational climate explained a significant amount of the variance in striving for perfection and negative reactions to imperfection during sports competitions. The study provided additional knowledge about correlates and potential precursors of athletes’ perfectionism and indicated the need for further research of perfectionism relative to a specific social context.