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The contemporary view of perfectionism is that it is a multidimensional construct (e.g., Frost, Marten, Lahart, & Rosenblate, 1990; Hewitt & Flett, 1991), and that the dimensions comprising perfectionism can have either adaptive or maladaptive influences upon cognition, affect, and behavior Research in non-sport settings has consistently shown that maladaptive perfectionism is associated with lower levels ofself-esteem. However, to date, no studies have examined the relationship between perfectionism and self-esteem in sport. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perfectionism and selfesteem among a sample of inter-collegiate athletes (36 male, 51 female, M age = 19.65 years). Perfectionism was assessed with the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Frost-- MPS; Frost et al., 1990). Self-esteem was assessed by Rosenberg 5 (1965) Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and a modified sport-specific version of Heatherton and Polivy 5 (1991) State SelfEsteem Scale (SSES). Exploratory factor analysis of the modified SSES revealed two factors that were labeled Satisfaction with Current Sport Performance (SCSP) and Perceived Athletic Competence (PAC). Canonical correlation (RC) analysis was used to examine the multivariate relationship between perfectionism and self-esteem. One significant canonical function was extracted (RC = .74, p < . 001). The pattern of canonical loadings suggested that athletes who adopted a maladaptive perfectionist orientation had low levels of selfesteem. Results are discussed around Hamachek 5 (1978) distinction between adaptive and maladaptive forms of perfectionism. The importance of measuring perfectionism as a mutlidimensional construct in sport is also discussed
Perfectionism has been shown to have adaptive or maladaptive influences upon cognition, affect, and behavior (e.g., Davis, 1997; Frost, Heimberg, Holt, Mattia, & Neubauer, 1993; Hamachek, 1978; Terry-Short, Owens, Slade, & Dewey, 1995). In the domain of sport psychology, the construct of perfectionism is extremely relevant because it appears to have the potential to either help or hinder athletes in their pursuit of achievement goals (Dunn, Causgrove Dunn, & Syrotuik, in press). However, only a handful of researchers have examined perfectionism in the context of sport (i.e., Coen & Ogles, 1993; Dunn et al., in press; Frost & Henderson, 1991; Gould, Tuffey, Udry, & Loehr, 1997; Gould, Udry, Tuffey, & Loehr, 1996; Hall, Kerr, & Matthews, 1998).
Based on professional intuition gained through years of experience working in the field of sport psychology,...