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The relationship between perfectionism - perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns - and athletic performance is contested and inconsistent. The present study explored the possibility that one explanation for this inconsistency is the assumption that the relationship is linear. In two samples, we tested alternative non-linear relationships between perfectionism and real-world competitive athletic performance. Sample one comprised 165 Swedish track and field athletes (57 % competing in female category, 42 % in male category; M age  = 16.93 years) and sample two comprised 157 British track and field athletes (55 % competing in female category, 43 % in male category; M age  = 18.42 years). Testing for linear and non-linear relationships, we found a quadratic effect whereby higher perfectionistic strivings had both positive increasing (i.e., U-shape; sample 1) and positive decreasing (i.e., inverted U-shape; sample 2) relationships with performance. We conclude that there may be circumstances when perfectionistic strivings contribute to better and worse sport performance, and that this relationship can be curvilinear., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Research has recently begun to examine the relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and athletes' post-competition mood. However, to date, there have been few attempts to examine the interaction between dimensions of perfectionism or model possible explanatory processes. To address these limitations, in the current study we tested a novel conditional process model whereby the relationship between perfectionistic strivings and post-competition affect was mediated by the degree to which goals were considered to have been met (goal-realization) and that this indirect effect was, in turn, moderated by levels of perfectionistic concerns. We tested this model in a sample of 251 athletes who took part in a "Runmageddon" event - a cross-country obstacle race. Athletes completed measures of perfectionism (perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns) before the race and measures of goal-realization and mood (tense arousal, energetic arousal, and hedonic tone) between 24 and 48 h after the race. Analyses revealed that perfectionistic strivings were indirectly linked to a more unpleasant post-competition mood (higher tense arousal and lower hedonic tone) via perceptions of lower goal-realization. In addition, these two indirect effects were statistically significant only when perfectionistic concerns were medium and high. The results support the proposed conditional model and suggest the interplay between dimensions of perfectionism is important for athletes' post-competition mood, and the level of perfectionistic concerns, especially., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Perfectionistic pressure from coaches and parents is likely to contribute to the development of perfectionism in youth athletes. However, if and how perfectionistic pressure from coaches and parents interact to predict the development of perfectionism is unknown. With this in mind, the present study tested a new model - the 2 × 2 Model of Perfectionistic Pressure - that focuses on the different combinations of perfectionistic pressure youth athletes can experience. Four within-person combinations of perfectionistic pressure are identified and compared: Pure coach pressure (high coach pressure/low parental pressure), pure parental pressure (low coach pressure/high parental pressure), mixed pressure (high coach pressure/high parental pressure), and low pressure (low coach pressure/low parental pressure). To test the model, a sample of 210 youth athletes (M age = 14.68 years) completed measures of perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, coach pressure to be perfect, and parental pressure to be perfect. Moderated hierarchical regression and simple slopes analyses revealed that mixed pressure was related to the highest levels of both perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns. The findings provide initial evidence for the new model and suggests it will be useful in studying the development of perfectionism and other outcomes in sport., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no existing conflicts of interest that would have the potential to influence the present study., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Research suggests that trait perfectionism and perfectionistic self-presentation are related to orthorexia - a pathological obsession with correct nutrition. However, no studies have examined these relationships over time or compared the influence of the two aspects of perfectionism on orthorexia. In the present study we sought to address these two issues. Gym members who engaged in high degrees of exercise were recruited via social media platforms. They completed an online questionnaire that included the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale-Short Form, Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Scale, and the Eating Habits Questionnaire on two occasions: 177 participants (Mean age = 31.6 years) initially completed the questionnaire and 82 completed the questionnaire six weeks later. A series of multiple regression analyses revealed that (i) trait perfectionism predicted an increase in orthorexia symptomatology over time with socially prescribed perfectionism and other-oriented perfectionism unique predictors of orthorexia, (ii) perfectionistic self-presentation predicted orthorexia over time with nondisplay of imperfection a unique predictor of orthorexia, and (iii) when considered alongside each other, only trait dimensions of perfectionism were unique predictors of orthorexia. The present study provides further evidence that perfectionism is related to orthorexia. In addition, the study also provides preliminary evidence that more engrained trait aspects of perfectionism are more predictive of orthorexia over time than the self-presentational aspects of perfectionism., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Research has illustrated that athlete perfectionism predicts athlete burnout. The present study sought to build on existing research in two ways. First, we provide the first test of the relationship between performance perfectionism and athlete burnout. That is, whether the degree to which athlete's expect their own or others' sport performances to be perfect, predicts burnout. Second, we broaden the examination of the perfectionism-burnout relationship to include coaches by testing the incremental predictive ability of perceptions of coach other-oriented performance perfectionism (the degree to which coaches were perceived to expect perfect performances from others). A sample of 190 competitive adult athletes ( M age = 20.54) completed measures of their own performance perfectionism (self-oriented, socially prescribed, and other-oriented performance perfectionism), perceived coach other-oriented performance perfectionism, and burnout symptoms. Regression analyses indicated that both athlete self-oriented and socially prescribed performance perfectionism positively predicted athlete burnout. In addition, after controlling for all dimensions of athlete performance perfectionism, perceived coach other-oriented performance perfectionism positively predicted athlete burnout. The findings suggest that, in addition to their own perfectionism, when athletes perceive their coaches to be more perfectionistic towards others, they are more likely to experience burnout.

Purpose: The present study aimed to provide the first examination of whether perfectionistic self-presentation-an interpersonal expression of perfectionism-is related to orthorexia., Methods: We recruited a sample of 150 exercisers (Mean age = 27.7 years). Participants completed the Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Scale and the ORTO-15 on a single occasion., Results: Two dimensions of perfectionistic self-presentation-perfectionistic self-promotion and nondisplay of imperfection-showed significant positive correlations with orthorexia. In addition, in multiple regression analyses controlling for the overlap between dimensions, perfectionistic self-promotion emerged as the strongest and only significant predictor of orthorexia., Conclusion: Perfectionistic self-presentation is positively associated with orthorexia in exercisers. Perfectionistic self-promotion-a need to portray an image of perfection to others-is primarily responsible for this relationship., Level of Evidence: Cross-sectional study, Level V., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Recent evidence demonstrates rising self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed perfectionism among young people from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada (Curran & Hill, 2019). One reason why perfectionism is increasing may be that rising competitiveness and individualism are requiring parents to engage in anxious, overly involved, and/or overly controlling forms of parenting. Yet, data to support this claim are limited and contested. In two meta-analyses, we expanded upon and tested this claim by examining whether excessive parental expectations and harsh parental criticism are correlated with perfectionism (Study 1) and whether these perceived practices are changing over time among American, Canadian, and British college students (Study 2). In Study 1, meta-analyses found small-to-moderate positive mean weighted effects of parental expectations and parental criticism on self-oriented and other-oriented perfectionism, and large positive mean weighted effects of parental expectations and parental criticism on socially prescribed perfectionism. In Study 2, using cross-temporal meta-analysis, we found that mean levels of parental expectations and parental criticism had linearly increased between 1989 and 2019 among college students. With rising competitiveness, individualism, economic inequality, and pressure to excel at school and college as the societal background, increases in parental expectations and parental criticism offer the most plausible explanation for rising perfectionism to date. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Perfectionism may promote engagement in illegal and unacceptable behaviours such as doping. To examine this idea, in the present study, we had two aims. First, we re-examined the relationship between perfectionism and attitudes towards doping and, in doing so, conducted a continuously cumulating meta-analysis. Second, we extended our understanding of this relationship by providing the first test of the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism in context of doping. A sample of 181 university athletes (mean age 18.5 years) completed measures of perfectionism (evaluative concerns perfectionism [ECP] and personal standards perfectionism [PSP]) and attitudes toward doping. A continuously cumulating meta-analysis based on five studies (including the present study; N  = 952) indicated that ECP showed a significant small-to-medium positive relationship with attitudes towards doping ( r +  = .07). In addition, moderated regression analysis provided support for two hypotheses of the 2 × 2 model. Specifically, pure ECP (high ECP, low PSP) was associated with more favourable attitudes towards doping than mixed perfectionism (high ECP, high PSP) and non-perfectionism (low ECP, low PSP). The present findings suggest that ECP is a significant positive predictor of attitudes towards doping and that athletes who exhibit a combination of high ECP and low PSP are the most likely to be at risk of doping. Consequently, a focus on reducing ECP may be a valuable addition to anti-doping education programmes.r +  = .07). In addition, moderated regression analysis provided support for two hypotheses of the 2 × 2 model. Specifically, pure ECP (high ECP, low PSP) was associated with more favourable attitudes towards doping than mixed perfectionism (high ECP, high PSP) and non-perfectionism (low ECP, low PSP). The present findings suggest that ECP is a significant positive predictor of attitudes towards doping and that athletes who exhibit a combination of high ECP and low PSP are the most likely to be at risk of doping. Consequently, a focus on reducing ECP may be a valuable addition to anti-doping education programmes.

Initial research suggests that parental perfectionism is central to the development of athlete perfectionism. However, it is unclear whether perceived or actual parental perfectionism is most important. The present study aimed to address this issue in two ways. First, we re-examined the predictive ability of actual versus perceived parental perfectionism on athlete perfectionism. Second, for the first time, we tested whether perceived parental perfectionism mediated the relationship between actual parental perfectionism and athlete perfectionism. A sample of 150 junior athletes and their parents completed measures of perfectionism (perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns). Junior athletes completed two measures, one of their own perfectionism and one of perceptions of their parents' perfectionism. Parents completed one measure of their own perfectionism. Regression analyses showed that perceived parental perfectionism predicted athlete perfectionism over and above actual parental perfectionism. Mediation analyses provided support for our proposed model. Overall, the findings suggest that both actual and perceived parental perfectionism are important in the development of perfectionism in junior athletes.

Perfectionism predicts cognitions, emotions, and behaviors in sport. Nonetheless, our understanding of the factors that influence its development is limited. The authors sought to address this issue by examining the role of coach and parental pressure in the development of perfectionism in sport. Using 3 samples of junior athletes (16-19 years; cross-sectional n  = 212, 3-month longitudinal n  = 101, and 6-month longitudinal n  = 110), the authors examined relations between coach pressure to be perfect, parental pressure to be perfect, perfectionistic strivings, and perfectionistic concerns. Mini meta-analysis of the combined cross-sectional data ( N  = 423) showed that both coach pressure and parental pressure were positively correlated with perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns. In contrast, longitudinal analyses showed that only coach pressure predicted increased perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns over time. Overall, our findings provide preliminary evidence that coaches may play a more important role in the development of junior athletes' perfectionism than parents.

We respond to Soenens and Vansteenkiste's (2019) commentary on our meta-analysis (Curran & Hill, 2019) that evidenced increases in college students' perfectionism from 1989 to 2016. In speculating on possible reasons for the increase, we argued that increases in anxious and controlling parenting could partly account for this trend. Soenens and Vansteenkiste argue that in doing so we did not differentiate between parental control as structure and parental control as pressure, with only the latter being important for the development of perfectionism. They also argue that when this distinction is made, research suggests that parental control as pressure is decreasing. Finally, they caution for the risk of parent blame. In our response, we acknowledge the potential importance of the distinction between parental control as structure and parental control as pressure but note that so far this distinction has not been common in perfectionism research. We also acknowledge that the evidence provided by Soenens and Vansteenkiste could be suggestive of declining control as pressure. However, we highlight that our arguments hinged on a wider array of evidence that placed changes in parental behavior in context of broader social change and multiple pathways to increases in perfectionism. We close our response by agreeing that parents are not to blame for increasing perfectionism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

From the 1980s onward, neoliberal governance in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom has emphasized competitive individualism and people have seemingly responded, in kind, by agitating to perfect themselves and their lifestyles. In this study, the authors examine whether cultural changes have coincided with an increase in multidimensional perfectionism in college students over the last 27 years. Their analyses are based on 164 samples and 41,641 American, Canadian, and British college students, who completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Hewitt & Flett, 1991) between 1989 and 2016 (70.92% female, Mage = 20.66). Cross-temporal meta-analysis revealed that levels of self-oriented perfectionism, socially prescribed perfectionism, and other-oriented perfectionism have linearly increased. These trends remained when controlling for gender and between-country differences in perfectionism scores. Overall, in order of magnitude of the observed increase, the findings indicate that recent generations of young people perceive that others are more demanding of them, are more demanding of others, and are more demanding of themselves. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Univariate and multivariate relationships between perfectionistic self-presentation and reactions to impairment and disability following spinal cord injury were examined. A total of 144 adults with spinal cord injury ( M = 48.18 years old, SD = 15.96) completed self-report measures. Analyses revealed that, after controlling for time since injury and gender, perfectionistic self-presentation predicted six of eight reactions, shock, depression and internalised anger particularly strongly. In addition, at multivariate level, perfectionistic self-presentation was positively related to non-adaptive reactions and negatively related to adaptive reactions. The findings suggest that perfectionistic self-presentation may contribute to poorer psychosocial adaptation to spinal cord injury.

Recent research found perfectionistic strivings to predict performance in a novel basketball task among novice basketball players. The current study builds on this research by examining whether this is also the case for performance in a familiar basketball training task among experienced basketball players, and whether achievement goals mediated any observed relationships. Perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, and 3 × 2 achievement goals were assessed prior to basketball training performance in 90 basketball players (mean age 20.9 years). Regression analyses showed that perfectionistic strivings predicted better performance. Furthermore, mediation analyses showed that other-approach goals (e.g. beliefs that one should and can outperform others) accounted for this relationship. The findings suggest that perfectionistic strivings may predict better performance in both novel and familiar athletic contexts. In addition, beliefs about the importance and ability to outperform others may explain this relationship.

Perfectionism purportedly bestows vulnerability to distress through an interaction with achievement and interpersonal stress. The authors test this by assessing athletes' perfectionism and subsequent self-conscious emotion following repeated competitive failure. A total of 60 college athletes undertook three 4-min competitive sprint trials on a cycle ergometer and were instructed that they had performed the worst of all competitors on each occasion. Measures of perfectionism (self-oriented and socially prescribed) were taken at baseline and measures of pride, guilt, and shame were taken at baseline and three times following each successive failure. Across the successive failures, self-oriented perfectionism predicted within-person trajectories of decreasing pride and increasing guilt. Socially prescribed perfectionism predicted within-person trajectories of increasing shame and guilt. Furthermore, a combination of high self-oriented and high socially prescribed perfectionism predicted the steepest within-person increases in shame and guilt. Findings support an achievement-specific vulnerability hypothesis whereby those higher in perfectionism experience pronounced distress following competitive failure.

Training distress occurs when athletes fail to cope with physiological and psychological stress and can be an early sign of overtraining syndrome. Recent research has found that perfectionism predicts increases in training distress in junior athletes over time. The current study provides the first empirical test of the possibility that coping tendencies mediate the perfectionism-training distress relationship. Adopting a cross-sectional design, 171 junior athletes (mean age = 18.1 years) completed self-report measures of perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, problem-focused coping, avoidant coping, and training distress. Structural equation modelling revealed that avoidant coping mediated the positive relationship between perfectionistic concerns and training distress, and mediated the negative relationship between perfectionistic strivings and training distress. Problem-focused coping did not mediate any relationships between dimensions of perfectionism and training distress. The findings suggest that the tendency to use coping strategies aimed at avoiding stress may partly explain the relationship between perfectionism and training distress but the tendency to use, or not use, problem-focussed coping does not.

A meta-analysis of research examining the relationships between multidimensional perfectionism and burnout is provided. In doing so, relationships before and after controlling for the relationship between dimensions of perfectionism were examined along with whether relationships were moderated by domain (work, sport, or education). A literature search yielded 43 studies (N = 9,838) and 663 effect sizes. Meta-analysis using random-effects models revealed that perfectionistic strivings had small negative or non-significant relationships with overall burnout and symptoms of burnout. By contrast, perfectionistic concerns displayed medium-to-large and medium positive relationships with overall burnout and symptoms of burnout. After controlling for the relationship between dimensions of perfectionism, "pure" perfectionistic strivings displayed notably larger negative relationships. In terms of moderation, in some cases, perfectionistic strivings were less adaptive and perfectionistic concerns more maladaptive in the work domain. Future research should examine explanatory mechanisms, adopt longitudinal designs, and develop interventions to reduce perfectionistic concerns fueled burnout., (© 2015 by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.)

The Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model (PSDM) and the Existential Model of Perfectionism and Depressive Symptoms (EMPDS) are promising models of perfectionism and psychopathology. However, research examining suicide ideation within the PSDM is scarce, and no research has examined suicide ideation as an outcome in the EMPDS. Moreover, tests of the PSDM and EMPDS have been conducted separately and most research has examined the PSDM and EMPDS using cross-sectional or two-wave longitudinal designs, which do not provide a satisfactory test of mediation. In the current study, we addressed these limitations by testing whether perfectionism confers vulnerability to suicide ideation via feelings of mattering and anti-mattering (from the PSDM) and via difficulty accepting the past (from the EMPDS) in a three-wave longitudinal design in two independent samples of undergraduate students and community adults. Participants completed measures on three occasions over 6 weeks. Findings revealed that socially prescribed perfectionism indirectly predicted suicide ideation via difficulty accepting the past in both samples. In addition, in the undergraduate sample only, socially prescribed perfectionism indirectly predicted higher suicide ideation via anti-mattering, and self-oriented perfectionism indirectly predicted higher suicide ideation via mattering. Based on our findings, we advocate for future research to include suicide ideation in the PSDM and EMPDS, to integrate explanatory models, and to examine a mattering-specific EMPDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to explore the views and experiences of sport psychology consultants who have worked with perfectionistic elite athletes and, particularly, their views on the use of cognitive behavioral therapy. Semistructured interviews were conducted with four professional sport psychology consultants who identified themselves as having experience of working with athletes they consider to be perfectionistic. Two themes were generated: manifestations of perfectionism and management of perfectionism. The consultants found perfectionistic athletes to have rigid attitudes and strong negative emotional experiences, to use safety behaviors, and to regularly underperform. Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques such as mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, and psychological skills training were most commonly used and were largely viewed as effective against a backdrop of sporting environment that could often encourage athletes to be perfectionistic. The findings highlight the complexity of perfectionism from a consultancy perspective and the potential challenges associated with working with perfectionistic athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between perfectionism, burnout and depression among youth soccer players is of interest due to the competitive academy environments that must be navigated in order to become a professional soccer player. Three alternative theoretical models have been proposed to explain the relationship between perfectionism, burnout and depression. These models state that perfectionism is (a) a vulnerability factor for burnout and depression (vulnerability model), (b) a consequence of burnout and depression (complication/scar model), or (c) that the relationships are reciprocal (reciprocal relations model). The purpose of this study was to test these three models in youth soccer players. One hundred and eight male soccer players (M= 16.15 years, SD = 1.84) from professional clubs completed measures of perfectionism, burnout symptoms, and depressive symptoms twice, three months apart. Cross-lagged panel analysis provided support for a reciprocal relations model for burnout symptoms and a complication/scar model for depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfectionism is a personality characteristic that has been found to predict sports performance in athletes. To date, however, research has exclusively examined this relationship at an individual level (i.e., athletes' perfectionism predicting their personal performance). The current study extends this research to team sports by examining whether, when manifested at the team level, perfectionism predicts team performance. A sample of 231 competitive rowers from 36 boats completed measures of self-oriented, team-oriented, and team-prescribed perfectionism before competing against one another in a 4-day rowing competition. Strong within-boat similarities in the levels of team members' team-oriented perfectionism supported the existence of collective team-oriented perfectionism at the boat level. Two-level latent growth curve modeling of day-byday boat performance showed that team-oriented perfectionism positively predicted the position of the boat in midcompetition and the linear improvement in position. The findings suggest that imposing perfectionistic standards on team members may drive teams to greater levels of performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated whether motivation regulations mediate the relationship between socially prescribed and self-oriented dimensions of perfectionism and athlete burnout. Two-hundred and thirty-one (N = 231) elite junior athletes completed the Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale (Flett, Hewitt, Boucher, Davidson, & Munro, 2000), the Sport Motivation Scale (Pelletier, Fortier, Valle- rand, Tuson, & Blais, 1995), and the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (Raedeke & Smith, 2009). Multiple mediator regression analyses revealed that amotivation mediated the relationship between socially prescribed perfectionism and burnout symptoms. Amotivation and intrinsic motivation emerged as significant mediators of the relationship between self-oriented perfectionism and burnout symptoms. The findings suggest that patterns of motivation regulations are important factors in the perfectionism-athlete burnout relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to conduct a systematic review and evaluation of research examining multidimensional perfectionism and cortisol in non-clinical populations. A literature search yielded 6 studies examining cortisol reactivity (CR) and 2 studies examining cortisol awakening response (CAR). Each study was rated in terms of the methodological quality and evidence for the relationship between dimensions of perfectionism (perfectionistic strivings, PS, and perfectionistic concerns, PC) and cortisol was recorded. For CR, 1 study was rated as low methodological quality, 1 study was rated as medium methodological quality, and 4 studies were rated as high methodological quality. Of the high-quality studies, one study provided supportive evidence of a positive relationship between PC and CR, and a further 3 provided inconclusive/null evidence. The only high-quality study to examine the relationship between PS and CR provided inconclusive/null evidence. For CAR, 1 study was rated as low methodological quality and the other as medium methodological quality. Based on these findings, no firm conclusions can be drawn regarding the relationship between perfectionism and cortisol. Moreover, if research continues in the same vein, future research is unlikely to examine the relationship appropriately. We therefore recommend future research follows expert guidelines regarding assessing cortisol responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies show that the development of perfectionism in adolescence is associated with psychologically controlling parenting. The current study extends research in this area by examining the relationship between a specific aspect of psychologically controlling parenting, parental conditional regard, and two dimensions of perfectionism, self-critical perfectionism and narcissistic perfectionism. Three hundred and sixteen adolescents ( M age = 15.69 years, s = 1.23) completed a standardised questionnaire. Structural equation modelling revealed that both self-critical perfectionism and narcissistic perfectionism were positively predicted by parental conditional regard. Our findings are the first to suggest that parent socialization characterised by guilt inducement and love withdrawal may be common to the development of these two distinct dimensions of perfectionism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valid and reliable instruments are required to appropriately study perfectionism. With this in mind, three studies are presented that describe the development and initial validation of a new instrument designed to measure multidimensional performance perfectionism for use in sport (Performance Perfectionism Scale–Sport [PPS-S]). The instrument is based on Hewitt and Flett’s (1991) model of perfectionism and includes self-oriented, socially prescribed, and other-oriented performance perfectionism. These dimensions encapsulate the features of Hewitt and Flett’s dimensions but are focused on athletic performance rather than life generally. The three studies outline item generation and refinement, exploratory, confirmatory, and exploratory-confirmatory examination of factor structure, and initial assessment of construct validity in multiple samples of adolescent and young adult athletes. Findings suggest that the PPS-S is likely to be a reliable and valid measure of performance perfectionism in youth sport. As validation continues, we expect the instrument to have wider applicability for use in adults and other performance contexts (e.g., education and work). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfectionism has traditionally been conceptualised as a personality trait. However, researchers have recently proposed a new construct– perfectionistic climate –which focusses on the degree to which the social environment is experienced as perfectionistic. In the current study, we apply this new construct to sport and begin the development and validation of the first scale to measure perfectionistic climate – the Perfectionistic Climate Questionnaire-Sport (PCQ-S). This self-report scale includes five components of coach behaviour central to perfectionistic climate: expectations, criticism, control, conditional regard, and anxiousness. The development of the PCQ-S included five stages and data from four samples of youth athletes (N = 730 total; M age = 14.50, s = 1.83). In stage one, outlined in study one, PCQ-S items were generated and then refined using feedback provided by academics, sport coaches, and youth athletes. In stage two, outlined in studies two and three, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and exploratory structural equation modelling techniques were used to examine the structure of PCQ-S items. In stage three, outlined in study four, discriminant validity was assessed by estimating the nomological network of relations between test scores on the PCQ-S and established coach climate measures. Then, in the final stage, outlined in study five, measurement invariance of the PCQ-S was examined across gender and age groups. The result of this process was a 20-item five-factor instrument that shows evidence of good factorial validity, can be differentiated from existing coach climate measures, and has measurement invariance. Based on these initial findings, the PCQ-S provides the first valid and reliable way of measuring perfectionistic climate in sport. • Perfectionistic climate is a term that reflects informational cues and goal structures in the social environment that pressure perfect performances. • The purpose of the present research was to develop and validate the Perfectionistic Climate Questionnaire-Sport (PCQ-S). • The PCQ-S is a five-factor 20-item scale that captures perceptions of perfectionistic coaching behaviours, practices, and relational styles. • The PCQ-S demonstrates evidence of good factorial validity, can be differentiated from existing coach climate measures, and has measurement invariance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Parent perfectionism positively predicted child perfectionism. • These relationships were accounted for, in part, by conditional regard. • Parent perfectionism directly and indirectly contributes to child perfectionism. Theory and research indicate that perfectionism can be intergenerationally transmitted by, among other things, social learning (e.g., parental imitation) and controlling forms of parental socialization. The current study extends this literature by combining and testing these ideas in a mediation model whereby child reported self-oriented and socially prescribed is the result of both parent reported self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism and child perceptions of parental conditional regard. One hundred and fifteen parent-child dyads (parent M age = 46.93 years, SD = 5.41; child M age = 14.11 years, SD = 1.87) completed a standardised questionnaire. Path analysis revealed that child self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism were positively predicted by parent self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism and that these relationships were accounted for, in part, by child perceptions of parental conditional regard. Our findings indicate that combining social learning and parent socialization perspectives provide a fuller understanding of the intergenerational transmission of perfectionism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model (PSDM) is a theory-driven model of the relationship between perfectionism, depressive symptoms, and suicide ideation. However, to date, tests of the PSDM have not included anti-mattering (i.e., feelings of not mattering alongside feelings of insignificance and marginalization) as a mediator or suicide ideation as an outcome. Critically, too, most research on the PSDM has relied on cross-sectional or two-wave longitudinal designs. Our study, then, examines whether perfectionism confers vulnerability to depressive symptoms and suicide ideation via mattering and anti-mattering in a three-wave longitudinal design. A sample of 181 undergraduates completed study measures on three occasions over six weeks. Findings provide strong support for the notion that socially prescribed perfectionism confers vulnerability to depressive symptoms via anti-mattering. Our findings suggest a need for future research on anti-mattering and suicide ideation, especially within the context of the PSDM and using longitudinal designs. • Tested the Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model in 181 undergraduate students • Suicide ideation was included as an outcome and anti-mattering as a mediator. • Conducted a robust three-wave longitudinal test over six weeks • Socially prescribed perfectionism led to depressive symptoms via anti-mattering. • Future research should include anti-mattering and conduct longitudinal tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the origins of self-oriented, socially prescribed, and other-oriented perfectionism in elite junior athletes. This was achieved by examining the relationships between parents’ and athletes’ multidimensional perfectionistic tendencies and testing two models of perfectionism development: the social learning and social expectations models. Methods: Two samples of junior athletes and their parents (Sample 1, n =302; Sample 2, n =259) completed a self-report version of Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale. Athletes also completed a second version of this scale, which captured their perceptions of parents’ perfectionism. Results: Regression analyses revealed that athletes’ self-oriented perfectionism was predicted by parents’ self-oriented perfectionism, athletes’ other-oriented perfectionism was predicted by parents’ other-oriented perfectionism, and athletes’ socially prescribed perfectionism was predicted by parents’ socially prescribed and other-oriented perfectionism. Regression analyses also revealed that athletes’ perceptions of their parents’ perfectionism, but not parents’ self-reported perfectionism, emerged as a significant predictor of athletes’ own perfectionism. Finally, moderation analyses revealed that the intergenerational transmission of perfectionism between parents and their athletic child was not limited to same-sex, parent–child dyads. Conclusions: Based on the results, it appears the development of perfectionism dimensions in athletes can be explained by social learning and social expectations pathways, depending on what dimension of perfectionism is being examined. The findings highlight the complex nature of perfectionism development in elite junior sport. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study tests whether perfectionism is a vulnerability factor for distress among female adolescents in the context of appearance-focused social comparison and use of social media. We hypothesized that perfectionism predicts greater depressive symptoms and lower body appreciation following appearance-focused upward social comparisons. One-hundred and thirty-five female adolescents (M age = 14.70 years, SD = 0.46) completed measures of rigid and self-critical perfectionism once, and depressive symptoms, body appreciation, and appearance-focused upward social comparison once a week for four weeks. Self-critical perfectionism positively predicted depressive symptoms and negatively predicted body appreciation. Self-critical perfectionism also interacted with appearance-focused upward social comparisons to predict greater depressive symptoms and lower body appreciation. No effects emerged for rigid perfectionism. Findings suggest self-critical perfectionism may be an important vulnerability factor for female adolescents following appearance-focused social comparison when using social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]