Perfectionism and Burnout in Athletes: The Mediating Role of Perceived Stress

Click name to view affiliation

Luke F. Olsson School of Science, Technology, and Health, York St John University, York, United Kingdom
School of Sport, Rehabilitation, and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom

Search for other papers by Luke F. Olsson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
*
,
Michael C. Grugan School of Science, Technology, and Health, York St John University, York, United Kingdom

Search for other papers by Michael C. Grugan in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
*
,
Joseph N. Martin School of Science, Technology, and Health, York St John University, York, United Kingdom

Search for other papers by Joseph N. Martin in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
*
, and
Daniel J. Madigan School of Science, Technology, and Health, York St John University, York, United Kingdom

Search for other papers by Daniel J. Madigan in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
*
Restricted access

Perfectionism is a consistent predictor of athlete burnout. Researchers have therefore sought to examine the psychological mechanisms that may explain this relationship. In the present study, guided by Smith’s cognitive-affective stress model, we extend existing research by examining whether perceived stress is one such explanatory factor. A sample of 256 adult athletes completed measures of perfectionism (perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns), perceived stress, and burnout. Correlational analyses indicated that perfectionistic concerns was positively related to burnout, while perfectionistic strivings was either negatively related or unrelated to burnout. Tests of bias-corrected bootstrapped indirect effects showed that perceived stress mediated the positive relationship between perfectionistic concerns and burnout. This finding was evident when examining total burnout and all three burnout symptoms. It appears that athletes high in perfectionistic concerns are likely to experience heightened levels of stress in sport which may in turn render them more vulnerable to burnout.

  • Collapse
  • Expand
  • Ahola, K., Toppinen-Tanner, S., & Seppänen, J. (2017). Interventions to alleviate burnout symptoms and to support return to work among employees with burnout: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Burnout Research, 4, 111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burn.2017.02.001

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Appleton, P.R., & Hill, A.P. (2012). Perfectionism and athlete burnout in junior elite athletes: The mediating role of motivation regulations. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 6(2), 129145. https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.6.2.129

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Byrne, B.M. (2016). Structural equation modeling with AMOS: Basic concepts, applications, and programming. Lawrence Erlbaum Associations Inc.

  • Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Erlbaum.

  • Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24(4), 385396. https://doi.org/10.2307/2136404

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Crocker, P.R., Gaudreau, P., Mosewich, A.D., & Kljajic, K. (2014). Perfectionism and the stress process in intercollegiate athletes: Examining the 2× 2 model of perfectionism in sport competition. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 45(4), 325348. https://doi.org/10.7352/IJSP2014.45.325

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • DeFreese, J.D., & Smith, A.L. (2014). Athlete social support, negative social interactions, and psychological health across a competitive sport season. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 36(6), 619630. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2014-0040

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • DeFreese, J.D., & Smith, A.L. (2020). A person-centered exploration of athlete burnout across a competitive season. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 15(2), 89104. https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2019-0084

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • De Petrillo, L.A., Kaufman, K.A., Glass, C.R., & Arnkoff, D.B. (2009). Mindfulness for long-distance runners: An open trial using mindful sport performance enhancement (MSPE). Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 3(4), 357376. https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.3.4.357

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Donachie, T.C., & Hill, A.P. (2020). Helping soccer players help themselves: Effectiveness of a psychoeducational book in reducing perfectionism. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 32, 121. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2020.1819472

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Dunker, F., Freund, P.A., & Engels, E.S. (2020). Does perceived stress affect the relationship between personality and sports enjoyment? European Journal of Health Psychology, 27, 4554. https://doi.org/10.1027/2512-8442/a000048

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Dunn, J.G., Gotwals, J.K., Dunn, J.C., & Lizmore, M.R. (2020). Perfectionism, pre-competitive worry, and optimism in high-performance youth athletes. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 18(6), 749763. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2019.1577900

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Eklund, R.C., & DeFreese, J.D. (2020). Athlete burnout. In G. Tenenbaum& R.C. Eklund (Eds.), Handbook of sport psychology (pp. 12201240). John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119568124.ch60

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Flett, G.L., & Hewitt, P.L. (2005). The perils of perfectionism in sports and exercise. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 14, 1418. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0963-7214.2005.00326.x

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Flett, G.L., Hewitt, P.L., & Nepon, T. (2020). The self-generated stress scale: Development, psychometric features, and associations with perfectionism, self-criticism, and distress. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 38(1), 6983. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734282919879542

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Flett, G.L., Nepon, T., Hewitt, P.L., & Rose, A.L. (2020). Why perfectionism is antithetical to mindfulness: A conceptual and empirical analysis and consideration of treatment implications. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00252-w

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Frost, R.O., Marten, P., Lahart, C., & Rosenblate, R. (1990). The dimensions of perfectionism. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 14(5), 449468. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01172967

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Garinger, L.M., Chow, G.M., & Luzzeri, M. (2018). The effect of perceived stress and specialization on the relationship between perfectionism and burnout in collegiate athletes. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 31(6), 714727. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2018.1521514

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Gerber, M., Gustafsson, H., Seelig, H., Kellmann, M., Ludyga, S., Flora, C., Brandaef, S., Isoard-Gautheurg, S., & Bianchih, R. (2018). Usefulness of the athlete burnout questionnaire (ABQ) as a screening tool for the detection of clinically relevant burnout symptoms among young elite athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 39, 104113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.08.005

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Goodger, K., Gorely, T., Lavallee, D., & Harwood, C. (2007). Burnout in sport: A systematic review. The Sport Psychologist, 21(2), 127151. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.21.2.127

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Gotwals, J.K. (2011). Perfectionism and burnout within intercollegiate sport: A person-oriented approach. The Sport Psychologist, 25(4), 489510. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.25.4.489

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Gotwals, J.K., Stoeber, J., Dunn, J.G., & Stoll, O. (2012). Are perfectionistic strivings in sport adaptive? A systematic review of confirmatory, contradictory, and mixed evidence. Canadian Psychology, 53, 263279. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0030288

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Graham, J.W., Cumsille, P.E., & Elek‐Fisk, E. (2003). Methods for handling missing data. In J.A. Schinka& W.F. Velicer (Eds.), Handbook of psychology: Research methods in psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 87114). Wiley.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Gustafsson, H., DeFreese, J.D., & Madigan, D.J. (2017). Athlete burnout: Review and recommendations. Current Opinion in Psychology, 16, 109113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.05.002

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Gustafsson, H., Kenttä, G., Hassmén, P., & Lundqvist, C. (2007). Prevalence of burnout in competitive adolescent athletes. The Sport Psychologist, 21(1), 2137. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.21.1.21

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Gustafsson, H., & Skoog, T. (2012). The mediational role of perceived stress in the relation between optimism and burnout in competitive athletes. Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 25(2), 183199. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2011.594045

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hayes, A.F. (2009). Beyond Baron and Kenny: Statistical mediation analysis in the new millennium. Communication Monographs, 76(4), 408420. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637750903310360

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hewitt, P.L., & Flett, G.L. (1991). Perfectionism in the self and social contexts: Conceptualization, assessment, and association with psychopathology. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60(3), 456. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.60.3.456

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hewitt, P.L., & Flett, G.L. (2002). Perfectionism and stress processes in psychopathology. In G.L. Flett& P.L. Hewitt (Eds.), Perfectionism: Theory, research, and treatment (pp. 255284). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10458-011

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hill, A.P., & Curran, T. (2016). Multidimensional perfectionism and burnout: A meta-analysis. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 20(3), 269288. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868315596286

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hill, A.P., Hall, H.K., & Appleton, P.R. (2010). Perfectionism and athlete burnout in junior elite athletes: The mediating role of coping tendencies. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 23(4), 415430. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615800903330966

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hill, A.P., Hall, H.K., Appleton, P.R., & Kozub, S.A. (2008). Perfectionism and burnout in junior elite soccer players: The mediating influence of unconditional self-acceptance. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 9(5), 630644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2007.09.004

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hill, A.P., Madigan, D.J., & Jowett, G.E. (2020). Perfectionism and athlete engagement: A multi-sample test of the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 48, Article 101664. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101664

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hill, A.P, Mallinson-Howard, S.H., & Jowett, G.E. (2018). Multidimensional perfectionism in sport: A meta-analytical review. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 7, 235270. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000125

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hill, A.P., Mallinson-Howard, S.H., Madigan, D.J., & Jowett, G.E. (2019). Perfectionism in sport, dance, and exercise: An extended review and reanalysis. In G. Tenenbaum& R.C Eklund (Eds.), Handbook of sport psychology (pp. 121–157; 4th ed.). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119568124.ch7

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • James, K., & Rimes, K.A. (2018). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy versus pure cognitive behavioural self-help for perfectionism: A pilot randomised study. Mindfulness, 9(3), 801814. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0817-8

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Jowett, G.E., Hill, A.P., Hall, H.K., & Curran, T. (2016). Perfectionism, burnout and engagement in youth sport: The mediating role of basic psychological needs. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 24, 1826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2016.01.001

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Kamimura, A., Kawata, Y., Raedeke, T.D., & Hirosawa, M. (2020). Association of athlete burnout with depression among Japanese University Athletes. Juntendo Medical Journal, 66(3), 221232. https://doi.org/10.14789/jmj.2020.66.JMJ19-OA24

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Larson, H.K., Young, B.W., McHugh, T.L.F., & Rodgers, W.M. (2019). Markers of early specialization and their relationships with burnout and dropout in swimming. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 41(1), 4654. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2018-0305

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Lee, R.T., & Ashforth, B.E. (1993). A longitudinal study of burnout among supervisors and managers: Comparisons between the Leiter and Maslach (1988) and Golembiewski et al. (1986) models. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 54(3), 369398. https://doi.org/10.1006/obhd.1993.1016

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Leiter, M.P., & Maslach, C. (1988). The impact of interpersonal environment on burnout and organizational commitment. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 9(4), 297308. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.4030090402

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Lemyre, P.N., Hall, H.K., & Roberts, G.C. (2008). A social cognitive approach to burnout in elite athletes. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 18(2), 221234. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2007.00671.x

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Lizmore, M.R., Dunn, J.G., & Dunn, J.C. (2017). Perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, and reactions to poor personal performances among intercollegiate athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 33, 7584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2017.07.010

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Lizmore, M.R., Dunn, J.G., Dunn, J.C., & Hill, A.P. (2019). Perfectionism and performance following failure in a competitive golf-putting task. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 45, Article 101582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.101582

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Madigan, D.J. (2016). Confirmatory factor analysis of the multidimensional inventory of perfectionism in Sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 26, 4851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2016.06.003

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Madigan, D.J. (2021). Diagnosing problems, prescribing solutions, and advancing athlete burnout research. In Z. Zenko& L. Jones (Eds.), Exercise and sport psychology: Open educational resource repository (pp. 664–682). https://doi.org/10.51224/B1028

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Madigan, D.J., Stoeber, J., & Passfield, L. (2015). Perfectionism and burnout in junior athletes: A three-month longitudinal study. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 37, 305315. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2014-0266

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Madigan, D.J., Stoeber, J., & Passfield, L. (2016a). Motivation mediates the perfectionism–burnout relationship: A three-wave longitudinal study with junior athletes. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 38(4), 341354. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2015-0238

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Madigan, D.J., Stoeber, J., & Passfield, L. (2016b). Perfectionism and changes in athlete burnout over three months: Interactive effects of personal standards and evaluative concerns perfectionism. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 26, 3239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2016.05.010

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Marsh, H.W., Hau, K.T., & Wen, Z.L. (2004). In search of golden rules: Comment on approaches to setting cutoff values for fit indexes and dangers in overgeneralising Hu & Bentler (1999) findings. Structural Equation Modeling, 11, 320341. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15328007sem1103_2

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Mosewich, A.D., Crocker, P.R., Kowalski, K.C., & DeLongis, A. (2013). Applying self-compassion in sport: An intervention with women athletes. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 35(5), 514524. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.35.5.514

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Muthén, L.K., & Muthén, B.O. (2005). Mplus: Statistical analysis with latent variables: User’s guide (pp. 19982012). Muthén & Muthén.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Nicholls, A.R., Taylor, N.J., Carroll, S., & Perry, J.L. (2016). The development of a new sport-specific classification of coping and a meta-analysis of the relationship between different coping strategies and moderators on sporting outcomes. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, Article 1674. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01674

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Nunnally, J.C., & Bernstein, I. (1994). Psychometric theory (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill.

  • Pacewicz, C.E., Gotwals, J.K., & Blanton, J.E. (2018). Perfectionism, coping, and burnout among intercollegiate varsity athletes: A person-oriented investigation of group differences and mediation. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 35, 207217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2017.12.008

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Polman, R., Borkoles, E., & Nicholls, A.R. (2010). Type D personality, stress, and symptoms of burnout: The influence of avoidance coping and social support. British Journal of Health Psychology, 15(3), 681696. https://doi.org/10.1348/135910709X479069

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Preacher, K.J., & Kelley, K. (2011). Effect size measures for mediation models: Quantitative strategies for communicating indirect effects. Psychological Methods, 16(2), 93115. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022658

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Raedeke, T.D., & Smith, A.L. (2001). Development and preliminary validation of an athlete burnout measure. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 23(4), 281306. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.23.4.281

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Raedeke, T.D., & Smith, A.L. (2004). Coping resources and athlete burnout: An examination of stress mediated and moderation hypotheses. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 26(4), 525541. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.26.4.525

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Reeves, C.W., Nicholls, A.R., & McKenna, J. (2011). The effects of a coping intervention on coping self-efficacy, coping effectiveness, and subjective performance among adolescent soccer players. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 9(2), 126142. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2011.567104

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Rozental, A., Shafran, R., Wade, T., Egan, S., Nordgren, L.B., Carlbring, P., Landström, A., Roos, S., Skoglund, M., Thelander, E., Trosell, L., Örtenholm, A., & Andersson, G. (2017). A randomized controlled trial of internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for perfectionism including an investigation of outcome predictors. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 95, 7986. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2017.05.015

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Sallen, J., Hemming, K., & Richartz, A. (2018). Facilitating dual careers by improving resistance to chronic stress: Effects of an intervention programme for elite student athletes. European Journal of Sport Science, 18(1), 112122. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2017.1407363

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Sarkar, M., & Fletcher, D. (2014). Psychological resilience in sport performers: A review of stressors and protective factors. Journal of Sports Sciences, 32(15), 14191434. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2014.901551

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Shafran, R., Wade, T.D., Egan, S.J., Kothari, R., Allcott-Watson, H., Carlbring, P., Rozental, A., & Andersson, G. (2017). Is the devil in the detail? A randomised controlled trial of guided internet-based CBT for perfectionism. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 95, 99106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2017.05.014

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Smith, R.E. (1986). Toward a cognitive-affective model of athletic burnout. Journal of Sport Psychology, 8(1), 3650. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsp.8.1.36

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Stoeber, J., & Madigan, D.J. (2016). Measuring perfectionism in sport, dance, and exercise: Review, critique, recommendations. In A.P. Hill (Ed.), The psychology of perfectionism in sport, dance and exercise (pp. 3156). Routledge.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Stoeber, J., & Otto, K. (2006). Positive conceptions of perfectionism: Approaches, evidence, challenges. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 10, 295319. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr1004_2

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Stoeber, J., Otto, K., Pescheck, E., Becker, C., & Stoll, O. (2007). Perfectionism and competitive anxiety in athletes: Differentiating striving for perfection and negative reactions to imperfection. Personality and Individual Differences, 42(6), 959969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2006.09.006

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Tabachnick, B.G., & Fidell, L.S. (2014). Using multivariate statistics (6th ed.). Pearson Education Limited.

All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 5587 1721 200
Full Text Views 528 420 133
PDF Downloads 346 187 53